






• •* 


o • » 



• A <, ‘-'rr*'' <0^ ''^.T* ■ A ^ 

.‘J^% fO^ ^’'yl^- ^®0 ■i-i-’^ -iL 




. 4 . , ^1 

^ *»!■>* 



* v"^ ' 

* ^ V 

o \p 

^v ^ . . % " ' " ’ ■f° , . „ %■ * " ’ ■ 




• 5 ^ . C ■» ^ A 


>6 °-^ •. 

%«■ O^ *...’ ,0 

ft ♦ • - 


A ,^^W* lb 

• ■<*« «■...._„ 

<<y C ° " ® ♦ .•■'•♦ '^O 



'^..s' . 0 ^ "o..* ^ 


r.s" .0 





V/'C, 

^ ♦ aV • 

O A^ 0 ® " ® ♦ Cr • ♦ *^0 A^ c ® ** ® • 

.- 1 ^ ^ <- A .•^<* 

- - -^^,,,u^ ' °'*' “ ^ 

«0 ■ A^ A^ CL ^0 .♦ /il 








^ * 
vP V • 


o ^ ' * >» *^0 o ® ** ® ♦ O' • 

^ ,WW A — lA v6. ^ ^ 



♦ aV . 

4 ^ y ^ ^ <t.> 

> -V 


-V •I*®-' > 

\ .4^ .V^^A,*.. 



^ » € • • A '✓-v 

-i? •• '■ 



'o, 'o . * '» A 


*' A ''o 

,<y , « • o^ '^;> v' »• ^ 

•V. /^V/k- A<' ♦Vdfe»&'. ' 

'-^Eiii^. A'^ V 

♦ -OP o 

' '^-. • 



• # 



y ^L/r7^^ 


0 ^ ♦»#-»• ^ * o hO 

v' 







® tj 

»* <jX **• 

♦ O 





’ / \. 
-iv 


'/'9’ 






^ *■*••** aCj 



- o •» o - 

•>£, o "^A 0^ 


' A 

''- v' **^^*. ^ 



• * 


40^ . 


0 « o 





4 

» jr /i- 

’* o'’ ^ \ 




>%v • ^^'*4 v- v cj^ xs^ • ts ^ >* - 

.o’- '»••* .<' <* A % A 

^ «*•**/• e ® ** ® <• Or •*’**♦ O 

'^ov •' 

pflvlAi/ _ .^V^taJ ^ ^ A I _j/KTv ® 





* <L^ f'- V' 






HERB OF GRACE 


BY ROSA NOUCHETTE CAREY 


lamo. Cloth, 75 cents per volume 


Wooed and Married 
Nellie’s Memories 
JJueenie’s Whim 
Not Like Other Girls 
Mary St. John 
Robert Ord’s Atonement 
The Search for 


Barbara Heathcote’s Trial 
For Lilias 
Heriot’s Choice 
Wee Wifie 
Uncle Max 
Only the Governess 
Basil Lyndhurst 


izmo. Cloth, $1.25 per volume 

The Mistress of Brae Farm Mollie’s Prince 
Other People’s Lives Rue with a Difference 

Herb of Grace 


In Uppincott' s Series of Select Novels 
izmo. Cloth, 00; paper, 50 cents 

The Old, Old Story Mrs. Romney 

But Men Must Work Sir Godfrey’s Grand-daughters 

BOOKS FOR GIRLS 

Illustrated, izmo. Cloth, gilt top, 75 cents per volume 

Esther Merle’s Crusade 

Aunt Diana Our Bessie 

Averil 

LIBRARY FOR GIRLS 
Five volumes in box. $ 6 .zs. Also sold separately 

Dr. Luttrell’s First Patient My Lady Frivol 
Little Miss Muffet Life’s Trivial Round 

Cousin Mona 


HERB OF GRACE 

■by 

Rosa Noiichette Carey 

AUTHOR OF ^^RUE WITH A- DIFFERENCE^' THE 
MISTRESS OF ArAE^ FARM," ETC. 


** We may call it herb of grace o’ Sundays” 

Ophelia 


B o 



> > > 5 ) > , 

.) ) > ) 5 ) ’ 

) ) •> J 5 


^ > J ’ ’ ^ > 5 > J > ^ \ 

PHILADELPHIA 

J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY 

I 9 P I 

C o w 


^ ’ 
) ) ^ 3 ) 

) ) ) 

3 ) > 


J M ) " > 
J , 1 r, ) 



the LfBRARY OF 
CONORESa 
Two Copies RECeivep 

SEP. 14 1901 

XopvriohT ENTHV 

CLASS O/XXa N*. 
COPY A. 



Copyright, 

BY 

J. B. Lippincott 


1901 

Company 


L < 


(. C 
( 

( 


< C 
< i < 

c < 


< ^ < 
( c 

f ( 


(CO c 

< c f 4 € 

< < C € 

< C C < < « C 


CCCC € CCC 
€ « < < 

€ € C < 4 < 

€ € « ' 

< 4 < C < < 


< ( c 
c 

c < 


t < 


< 

< 


ELECTROTYPED AND PRINTED BY J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY, PHILADELPHIA, U.8,A, 


01 '^41 


CONTENTS 

* 

CHAPTER page 

I Introduces a Lover of the Picturesque 7 

II Fallen among Thieves 16 

III A Page of Ancient History 27 

IV Anna 39 

V Mrs. Herrick objects to Bohemia 49 

VI Yea-Verily and Babs 59 

VII More Ancient History with Verity 69 

VIII The Record of an Impotent Genius 80 

IX The Wood House 90 

X What the Fern-owl heard 100 

XI “A Little Egotistical, perhaps” no 

XII Mr. Carlyon’s Tea-party 120 

XIII The Crow’s Nest 130 

XIV “You DO SAY SUCH Odd Things” 140 

XV ‘‘Betty is a Trump!” 149 

XVI ‘‘It really is a Good Idea, Die” 159 

XVII ‘‘Adieu — A u Revoir” 170 

XVIII ‘‘Yes, She gave Him up” 180 

XIX ‘‘A Touch of the Tartar” 189 

XX A White Sun-bonnet 199 

XXI ‘‘ If I WERE ONLY LIKE You” 2o8 


5 


6 CONTENTS 

CHAPTER PAGE 

XXII “Two Maiden Ladies of Uncertain Age” .. 217 

XXIII Saint Elizabeth ! 227 

XXIV Down by the Pool 236 

XXV “It has gone very Deep” 245 

XXVI “I SEE Light now” 256 

XXVII Hugh Rossiter spins his Yarn 266 

XXVIII “The Lady calling Herself Miss Jacobi” .. 275 

XXIX “She is a Wicked Woman” 284 

XXX In Kensington Gardens 295 

XXXI Plot and Counterplot 304 

XXXII Storm and Stress 315 

XXXIII “He will come right” 325 

XXXIV Travelling through Sahara 335 

XXXV Via Dolorosa 345 

XXXVI “I HAVE BEEN A COWARD” : 355 

XXXVII The Parting of the Ways 366 

XXXVIII Tangled Threads 375 

XXXIX The New Curate-in-Charge 385 

XL “He is my Rival still” 395 

XLI “You CAN BE Dinah’s Friend” 404 

XLII The Whirligig of Time 413 

XLIII A May Afternoon 422 

XLIV “My dearest Rest” 433 


HERB OF GRACE 

CHAPTER I 

INTRODUCES A LOVER OF THE PICTURESQUE 

Our adventures hover round us like bees round the hive when 
preparing to swarm. — Maeterlinck. 

From boyhood Malcolm Herrick had been a lover of 
the picturesque. In secret he prided himself on possess- 
ing the artistic faculty, and yet, except in the nursery, 
he had never drawn a line, or later on spoilt canvas and 
daubed himself in oils under the idea that he was an 
embryo Millais or Turner. But nevertheless he had the 
seeing eye, and could find beauty where more prosaic 
people could only see barrenness: a stubble field newly 
turned up by the plough moved him to admiration, while 
a Surrey lane, with a gate swinging back on its hinges, 
and a bowed old man carrying faggots, in the smoky light 
of an October evening, gave him a feeling akin to ecstasy. 
More than one of his school-fellows remembered how, 
even in the cricket field, he would stand as though trans- 
fixed, looking at the storm clouds, with their steely edges, 
coming up behind the copse, but the palms of his hands 
were outstretched and he never failed to catch the ball. 

Nature intended me for an artist or a poet,^’ Malcolm 
would say, for he was given at times to a hard, merciless 
introspection, when he took himself and his motives to 
pieces, “ but circumstances have called me to the bar. To 
be sure I have never held a brief, and my tastes are purely 
literary, but all the same I am a member of the legal pro- 
fession.” 


7 


8 


HERB OF GRACE 


Malcolm Herrick used his Englishman’s right of grum- 
bling to a large extent; with a sort of bitter and acrid 
humility, he would accuse himself of having missed his 
vocation and his rightful heritage, of being neither “ fish, 
flesh, nor good red herring;” nevertheless his post for 
the last two years had pleased him well : he was connected 
with a certain large literary society which gave his legal 
wits plenty of scope. In his leisure hours he wrote 
moderately well-expressed papers on all sorts of social 
subjects with a pithy raciness and command of language 
that excited a good deal of comment. 

Herrick was a clever fellow, people said ; “ he would 
make his mark when he was older, and had got rid of his 
cranks;” but all the same he was not understood by the 
youth of his generation. “ The Fossil,” as they called 
him at Lincoln, was hardly modern enough for their taste ; 
he was a survival of the mediaeval age — he took life too 
gravely, and gave himself the airs of a patriarch. 

In person he was a thin spare man, somewhat sallow, 
and with dark melancholy eyes that were full of intelli- 
gence. When he smiled, which he did more rarely than 
most people, he looked at least ten years younger. 

In reality he was nearly thirty, but he never measured 
his age by years. “ I have not had my innings yet,” he 
would say ; I am going to renew my youth presently ; 
I mean to have my harvest of good things like other 
fellows, and eat, drink, and be merry;” but from all 
appearance the time had not come yet. 

Malcolm Herrick’s chambers were in Lincoln’s Inn. 
Thither he was turning his footsteps one sultry July after- 
noon, when as usual he paused at a certain point, while a 
smile of pleasure stole to his lips. 

Familiarity had not yet dulled the edge of his enjoy- 
ment; now, as ever, it soothed and tranquillised him to 
turn from the noisy crowded streets into this quiet spot 
with its gray old buildings, its patch of grass, and the 


A LOVER OF THE PICTURESQUE 9 

broad wide steps up and down which men, hurrying 
silently, passed and repassed intent on the day’s work. 

As usual at this hour, the flagged court was crowded 
by pigeons, strutting fearlessly between the feet of the 
passers-by, and filling the air with their soft cooing voices. 

Ah, my friend the cobbler,” he said to himself, and 
he moved a little nearer to watch the pretty sight. A 
child’s perambulator — a very shabby, rickety concern — 
had been pushed against the fence, and its occupant, a 
girl, evidently a cripple, was throwing corn to the eager 
winged creatures. Two or three, more fearless than the 
others, had flown on to the perambulator and were peck- 
ing out of the child’s hands. Presently she caught one 
and hugged it to her thin little bosom. “ Oh dad, look 
here — oh daddy, see, its dear little head is all green and 
purple. I want to kiss it — I do — I love it so.” 

“ Better put it down. Kit — the poor thing is scared,” 
returned the man, and the child reluctantly let it fly. It 
made straight for the distant roofs behind them, but the 
rest of the pigeons still strutted and pecked round the 
perambulator with tiny mincing steps, like court ladies 
practising the minuet. Malcolm looked on with unabated 
relish — the homely idyll always charmed him. 

He had never spoken to the crippled child or her father, 
although they had often crossed his path at this hour; 
nevertheless he regarded them as old friends. 

More than once he had made up his mind to accost 
them, but he was reserved by nature and it cost him an 
effort to take the initiative. In his case silence was always 
golden; in his own cynical language, he refused to tout 
for a cheap popularity by saying pleasant things to 
strangers. 

They were not an attractive pair. The cobbler was a 
thin meagre little man, with a round back, bow-legs, a 
sharp pinched face, and pale blue eyes that seemed to look 
dejectedly at life. 


10 


HERB OF GRACE 


The child was the image of her father, only in her case 
the defects were more accentuated: her face was still 
more pinched, and absolutely colourless, and the large 
blue-gray eyes were out of proportion to the other feat- 
ures. A fringe of red hair, curled very stiffly, and set 
round the small face like a large frill, gave her a curiously 
weird look. Some woman’s hand must have curled it and 
tied the wide limp bows of her sunbonnet under the sharp 
little chin. 

Neither of them seemed to notice Malcolm Herrick’s 
scrutiny, they were so absorbed by the pigeons; but the 
scanty supply of corn had soon been scattered, and the 
guests were flying off by twos and threes. 

“ Oh see, dad !” exclaimed the child in her shrill little 
voice. “ Oh, my ! ain’t it heavenly to cut capers like that 
in the air; it is like the merry-go-rounds at the fair;” 
and then Kit clapped her hands as another pretty creature 
rose softly and fluttered away in the distance. 

The air had been growing more sultry and oppressive 
every moment ; a heavy storm was evidently gathering — 
already a few heat-drops had fallen. Malcolm was a man 
who noticed details ; he perceived at once that the ragged 
cover of the perambulator offered a flimsy and insufficient 
protection. Then he glanced at the umbrella in his hand ; 
it was a dandified article, with a handsomely carved 
handle. 

The two voices that usually wrangled within his breast 
for the mastery made themselves heard. 

“ It is perfectly impossible for you to offer the um- 
brella that Anna gave you to that brat,” murmured 
common-sense ; very likely her father would pawn it 
for gin.” 

“ But the child looks ill,” remonstrated impulse. 
“ Anna would be sure to think of the poor mite first.” 
But it was doubtful which voice would have prevailed 
but for a chance word. 


A LOVER OF THE PICTURESQUE 


II 


Oh, dad, there is a big drop — it quite splashed my 
face. Ma’am said the rain would drown us.” Then the 
man, whose wits had been wool-gathering, looked up in 
alarm, and began fumbling with Kit’s shawl. 

“ Dear sakes,” he muttered, “ who would have thought 
it! But it is just my luck. You will be drenched before 
I get you in. Kit, and Ma’am will scold us for the rest of 
the day.” 

“ Will you take this umbrella for the child, my good 
man?” observed Malcolm pleasantly. “ I am close to my 
chambers. You can let me have it back to-morrow morn- 
ing.” Then, as the man regarded him in dazed astonish- 
ment, he gave him his address. Perhaps you may as 
well let me know your name,” he continued, 

Caleb Martin, sir,” replied the cobbler ; and we live 
in Todmorden’s Lane, leading out of Beauchamp Street. 
It is Mr. Bennet’s the bootmaker, and I works for him 
and lives in the basement, ’long of wife and Kit.” 

“ Beauchamp Street — oh yes, I know. Then you had 
better get the child home.” He nodded and smiled at 
Kit as he moved away. 

Caleb gazed after him with open mouth and pale eyes 
full of speechless gratitude; but Kit had unfurled the 
umbrella proudly, and sat like a queen in a silken tent. 

''Ain’t he a gentleman!” she exclaimed with a joyous 
chuckle ; " seems to me the angels must be his sort. 
Wasn’t he just splendid, dad!” But Caleb, who was 
trundling the perambulator down a side street, only shook 
his head in silence. 

Malcolm felt a warm glow of exhilaration, which 
secretly moved him to astonishment, as he ran lightly up 
the long bare flights of stairs to his chambers. " A mere 
trifle like that,” he said to himself contemptuously, as he 
entered the outer room, where a small and exceedingly 
sharp office boy, rejoicing in the euphonious name of 
Malachi Murphy, beguiled the tedium of the waiting 


12 HERB OF GRACE 

hours by cutting the initials of his family on the legs of 
the table. 

When Malcolm wanted to amuse a friendly visitor, he 
would question Malachi blandly and innocently on his 
brothers’ and sisters’ names. 

“ You are all minor prophets,” he would say carelessly. 
“ I think Mr. So-and-So would be interested to hear how 
you came by these names.” And thus encouraged, Mala- 
chi would twist his face knowingly, until it resembled a 
gargoyle rather than a human face, and start away as 
though he had been wound up afresh. 

“ Well, it was like this, sir. Father was just reading 
Hosea on Sunday evening, when mother took bad, and 
so they made up their minds that they would call my 
eldest brother Hosea; the next one was Joel, because 
father liked the name; and by-and-by mother put in her 
word for Amos. Obadiah only lived five weeks ; and the 
next was a girl, and they called her Micah. Father 
wouldn’t have none of us christened Jonah, because he 
said he was real mean; but we had Nahum, and Habak- 
kuk Zephaniah and Haggai Zechariah ; and when my time 
came there was nothing left but Malachi, and father said 
we had better finish the job; and so Malachi I was. It 
is a blessing,” continued Malachi frankly, “ that Habak- 
kuk Zephaniah and Haggai Zechariah died when they 
were babies ; for none of us would have known what to 
call them; as it is, I am mostly called Mealy Murphy 
down my way.” 

“ There’s a gentleman waiting to see you, sir,” ob- 
served Malachi, dropping his clasp knife dexterously into 
the waste-paper basket. “ Wouldn’t give his name. 
Seems in a mighty hurry by the way he has been walk- 
ing all over the shop,” he continued, sotto voce, as he 
dipped his pen into the ink again. “ I wonder what the 
governor would say if he had heard him whistling like 
a penny steamer and playing old Sallie with the pen- 


A LOVER OF THE PICTURESQUE 13 

wipers and sealing-wax. A lively sort of bloke as ever 
I see.” 

Malcolm walked rapidly to the door and opened it; 
as he did so, a look of surprise and pleasure crossed his 
face at the sight of a handsome, fair-haired youth, lying 
back on his easy-chair, with his feet resting on a pile of 
ledgers. 

“ Hallo, Cedric !” he exclaimed in a cordial tone. 
“ What on earth has brought you up to town on the 
hottest day of the year? No, stay where you are,” as 
his visitor attempted to rise, and Malcolm put his hands 
lightly on the boy’s shoulders, pressing him gently back 
against the cushions. “ I never sit there myself unless I 
am lazy.” 

'' All right, old chap,” returned the other easily. I 
didn’t want to move; only manners maketh man — I al- 
ways was the pink of courtesy and politeness, don’t you 
know. Ask old Dinah, and she will tell you.” 

“ Oh yes, we all know that,” returned Malcolm drily. 
“ Now, will you answer my question — what brings you 
up to Lincoln’s Inn in this unexpected manner?” 

Keep cool, old fellow, and take a seat, and I will tell 
you,” returned the lad in a patronising tone. “ You see 
I am staying at Teddington. Fred Courtenay was spliced 
yesterday, and I had promised to be at the show.” 

Oh, I forgot Courtenay was to be married yesterday,” 
muttered Malcolm. 

‘‘ It went off all right,” continued Cedric. “ No one 
forbade the banns, and the happy couple drove away with 
half-a-dozen satin slippers reposing on the roof of the 
carriage. But now the business is over, it is a trifle dull. 
Fred’s sisters are all in the schoolroom, you know, so I 
told Mrs. Courtenay that I had a pressing engagement in 
town.” 

“ Oh, I begin to see light.” 

I did some shopping in the Strand, and then I thought 
I would look you up in your grimy old diggings. My 


14 


HERB OF GRACE 


word, we are going to have a storm, Herrick,” as a flash 
of lightning lit up the dark room. 

“ Yes, but it will soon be over, and you are in no hurry 
to catch your train.” 

“ No, you are right there. The house is all in a mud- 
dle from the wedding, and we are to have a sort of non- 
descript meal at eight. Herrick, old fellow, I want you 
to put me up for a couple of nights. You are coming 
down to Staplegrove on Tuesday, so I told Dinah that 
we might as well travel together.” 

“ Does your sister really expect me ?” asked Malcolm 
dubiously. “ My dear boy,” as Cedric grew rather red 
and pulled his budding moustache in an affronted man- 
ner, I know you were good enough to invite me, but I 
understood from you that your sisters were the owners 
of the Wood House, and as I have not yet made their ac- 
quaintance ” 

Hang it all, Herrick, I suppose a fellow can see his 
friends sometimes, even if he is dependent on his sisters,” 
and Cedric’s tone was decidedly sulky. “ Besides, Dinah 
sent you a message — she and Elizabeth will be delighted 
to see you, and all that sort of thing, and they hoped you 
would stay as long as possible.” 

“ I am glad you told me that,” returned Malcolm, with 
a relieved air. In reality he had been secretly much em- 
barrassed by Cedric’s invitation. “ You know, my dear 
fellow, how pleased I am to be introduced to your peo- 
ple, and it is most kind of Miss Templeton to send me 
that message.”’ 

“ Oh, Dinah is a good old sort,” returned the lad care- 
lessly. The cloud had vanished from his face. “ Well, 
Herrick, what do you say about putting me up? There 
are two or three things I want to do in town, and it is a 
bore staying on at the Briars now old Fred has gone.” 

“ When do you want to come to me?”’ asked Malcolm. 
‘‘ I am to sleep at Queen’s Gate the next two nights, and I 
have promised to take Miss Sheldon out to-morrow. She 


A LOVER OF THE PICTURESQUE 15 

is my mother’s adopted daughter, you know — Anna Shel- 
don. I have often mentioned her to you.” 

Then Cedric nodded. 

“ I shall be back at Chelsea on Friday, if you like to 
come to me then; but the guest-chamber is remarkably 
small — at present it holds all my lumber and little else.” 
But as Cedric professed himself indifferent on the subject 
of his own comfort — an assertion that drew a covert smile 
from his friend’s lips — the matter was soon settled. 

An animated conversation ensued, consisting mainly 
of a disjointed monologue on Cedric’s part; for Malcolm’ 
Herrick only contributed a laconic remark or question 
at intervals, but there was a kindly gleam in his eyes as 
he listened, as though the fair, closely-cropped head lying 
back on the shabby cushion, with the eager bright young 
face, was a goodly spectacle. 

At first sight the friendship between these two men 
seemed singularly ill-assorted; for what possible affinity 
could there be between a thoughtful, intellectual man like 
Malcolm Herrick, with his habitual reserve, his nature 
refined, critical, and yet imaginative, with its strong bias 
to pessimism, and its intolerance of all shams, and Cedric, 
with his facile, pleasure-loving temperament, at once in- 
dolent and mercurial — a creature of moods and tenses, as 
fiery as a Welshman, but full of lovable and generous 
impulses ? 

The disparity between their ages also seemed to forbid 
anything like equality of sympathy. Malcolm was at least 
eight or nine years older, and at times he seemed middle- 
aged in Cedric’s eyes. “ He is such a regular old fossil,” 
he would say — “ such a cut and dried specimen of 
humanity, that it is impossible to keep in touch with him ; 
it stands to reason that we must clash a bit; but there, 
in spite of his cranks, Herrick is a good fellow.” But, 
notwithstanding this faint praise, the inhabitants of the 
Wood House knew well that there was no one whom 
Cedric valued more than his friend Malcolm Herrick. 


CHAPTER II 


FALLEN AMONG THIEVES 

Why insist on rash personal relations with your friend? Why 
go to his house, or know his mother and brother and sisters? 
Why be visited by him at your own? Are these things ma- 
terial to our covenant? Leave this touching and clawing. Let 
him be to me a spirit. — Emerson. 

Malcolm Herrick was a devout disciple of Emerson. 
He always spoke of him as one of the master minds that 
dominated humanity. He is the chosen Gamaliel at 
whose feet I could sit for ever,” he would say ; “ on 
every subject he speaks well and wisely;” and once, when 
he was strolling through Kensington Gardens with his 
sister-friend, Anna Sheldon, he had electrified her by 
quoting a favourite passage from his essay on friendship. 

“ Frien 'ship requires that rare mean betwixt likeness 
and unlikeness that piques each with the presence of 
power and of consent in the other party. Let me be alone 
to the end of the world, rather than that my friend should 
overstep, by a word or look, his real sympathy. I am 
equally baulked by antagonism and by compliance. Let 
him not cease an instant to be himself. . . . Better be a 
nettle in the side of your friend than his echo.” 

Malcolm had uttered the last sentence in rather a tragic 
tone, but he was somewhat offended when the girl 
laughed. “ What an odd idea !” she observed innocently. 
“ I should strongly object to anything so stinging as a 
nettle ; perhaps it is because I am a woman that I should 
prefer the echo;” but Malcolm, who had received a 
douche of cold water from this feminine criticism, de- 
clined to be drawn into a discussion on the subject. 

‘‘ Women are so illogical,” he muttered angrily, and 

i6 


FALLEN AMONG THIEVES 


17 


Anna’s heaven of content was suddenly clouded. Mal- 
colm’s approval was vitally necessary to her happiness — 
a chilling word from him had power to spoil the fairest 
landscape and blot out the sunshine; nevertheless she 
took her rebuff meekly and without retort. 

A mere chance, an accident in the destinies of both men, 
had brought about this acquaintance between Malcoim 
Herrick and Cedric Templeton. The vice-president of 
Magdalene was an old friend of the Herrick family, and 
was indeed distantly related to Mrs. Herrick; and after 
Malcolm had taken his degree and left Lincoln, he often 
spent a week or two with Dr. Medcalf. He was an old 
bachelor, and one of the most sociable of men, and his 
rooms were the envy of his friends. Malcolm was a 
great favourite with him, and was always welcome when 
he could spare time to run down for a brief visit. 

About two years before, he was spending a few days 
with his friend, when one evening as he was strolling 
down Addison’s Walk in the gloaming, his attention was 
attracted by a young undergraduate, tie was seated on a 
bench with his head in his hands; but at the sound of 
passing footsteps he moved slightly, and Malcolm caught 
sight of a white boyish face and haggard eyes that looked 
at him a little wildly ; then he covered his face again. 

Malcolm walked on a few steps; his kind heart was 
shocked at the lad’s evident misery, but to his reserved 
nature it was never easy to make the first advance; in- 
deed, he often remarked that he had rather a fellow-feel- 
ing with the Levite who passed by on the other side. 

“ I daresay he was sorry for the poor traveller in his 
heart,” he observed, but it takes a deal of moral courage 
to be a Good Samaritan ; it is not easy for a shy man, for 
example, to render first aid to a poor chap with a fractured 
. limb in the middle of a crowd of sympathising bystanders 
^ — one’s self-consciousness and British hatred of a scene 
seem to choke one off.” 


2 


i8 


HERB OF GRACE 


So, true to his diffident nature, Malcolm walked to the 
other end of Addison’s Walk ; then something seemed to 
drag at him, and he retraced his steps slowly and reluc- 
tantly; finally, as though constrained by some unseen 
power that overmastered his reserve, he sat down on the 
bench and touched the youth lightly on the arm. 

“ You are in trouble, I fear; is there anything I can do 
to help you ?” 

The words were simple almost to bluntness, but they 
were none the worse for that, for they rang true from a 
good heart. 

Malcolm’s voice was pleasant; when he chose, it could 
be both winning and persuasive; to the lad sitting there 
in the Egyptian darkness of a terrifying despair, it 
sounded honey-sweet. He put out a hot hand to his new 
friend, and then broke into a fit of tears and sobs. “ Oh, 
can you help me ?” he gasped out. “ I wanted to drown 
or hang myself, sooner than disgrace them ; only I 
thought of Dinah and I couldn’t do it ;” and then as he 
grew calmer a little judicious questioning and a few more 
kind words brought out the whole story. 

He had fallen into bad hands ; two or three men older 
and richer than himself had got hold of him for their own 
purposes, and had led him into mischief. The culminating 
misfortune had happened the previous evening, when they 
had induced him to play at cards; the stakes were high, 
though the boy was too much fuddled by champagne to 
guess that. 

They made me drunk, sir,” groaned Cedric ; “ and 
there was a professional sharper there — Wright has just 
told me so — and he will not let me off. If they found 
out things at headquarters I should be rusticated, and I 
am only in my first term. The Proctor has vowed to make 
an example of the next fellow caught gambling, and they 
say he always keeps his word.” 

“ How much do you owe ?” asked Malcolm ; and when 


FALLEN AMONG THIEVES 


19 


Cedric in a low voice mentioned the sum, Malcolm gave a 
whistle of dismay. No wonder he was in despair. 

If I had not drunk too much, I should have stopped 
playing when I saw I was losing,'' went on Cedric in a 
contrite tone ; but they plied me with liquor, and I got 
reckless, and then I knew no more till I found myself in 
bed with my clothes on." 

Cedric was not shirking the truth certainly. The young 
prodigal already realised the nature of the husks given to 
him; he was so low and abject in his abasement that a 
word of rebuke would have seemed cruel. One thing 
was certain, that matters were serious — gambling and 
drunkenness were no light offences. 

Malcolm had already been put into possession of the 
youth's domestic history. His name was Cedric Temple- 
ton ; his parents were dead, and he was dependent on his 
half-sisters ; his father had had heavy losses, and Cedric's 
inheritance had been small. The first Mrs. Templeton 
had brought her husband great wealth, but the money had 
been settled on the daughters. Mr. Templeton's second 
wife was a penniless girl. She had died two or three 
years after Cedric's birth, and Dinah, the elder sister, had 
mothered him. 

You must put a good face on it and write to your 
sister," continued Malcolm. “If you take my advice, 
Templeton, you will keep nothing back — ‘ the truth, the 
whole truth, and nothing but the truth' — and hang the 
consequences." Malcolm finished his sentence with a 
touch of impatience, for the boy's scared face almost 
frightened him. 

“ No, no, no !" returned Cedric vehemently. “ I would 
sooner drown myself a hundred times over. Look here," 
plucking at Malcolm's coat-sleeve with his feverish, rest- 
less hand, “ you don't understand — you don't know 
Dinah; she would break her heart, and Elizabeth too. 


/ 


20 HERB OF GRACE 

They are such good women, they don’t allow for a fel- 
low’s temptation ; and — and I have broken my word.” 

How do you mean, my dear lad ?” 

“ I gave them my sacred promise not to play for money. 
I don’t know why Dinah was always so afraid of that. 
They never thought of the other thing,” and Cedric hung 
his head in shame — “ they would not believe it was pos- 
sible; it was always debt and not paying one’s bills that 
Dinah feared.” 

Your sister was right, Templeton,” returned Mal- 
colm somewhat sternly. '' Wait a moment, I must think 
over things and see what is to be done;” and then he 
rose from the bench and paced slowly up and down. “ A 
hundred and twenty pounds lost in a single night to a 
professional card-sharper,” he thought. “ The rogues 
ought to be shown up, only this would involve the end of 
the lad’s university career.” Malcolm knew the Proctor 
well — not even a first offence would receive a merciful 
verdict. 

If only the boy would throw himself upon his sisters’ 
compassion — women were so soft-hearted and forgave so 
easily. But Cedric had refused this; he had even used 
strong language when his adviser pressed it. 

“ Obstinate young beggar,” he growled ; it would 
serve him right to let him get out of the mess by him- 
self ;” and then he relented from his severity, and rapidly 
added up some sums in his head. The result of his calcu- 
lation was satisfactory. He had just that amount lying 
idle at his banker’s. His mother made him a liberal al- 
lowance, and he was beginning to turn an honest penny 
by literary work. At that time he was still an occupant 
of his mother’s house, so his expenses were not great. 

“ Yes, I will risk it,” he thought, with one of those 
sudden impulses that took other people as well as himself 
by surprise, and then he walked quickly up to Cedric. 

Look here, Templeton,” he exclaimed, “ I have made 


FALLEN AMONG THIEVES 


21 


up my mind to go bail for the whole amount. It is too 
late now to do anything, but to-morrow I will see those 
fellows and give them a bit of my mind. Your friend the 
card-sharper will have to make tracks. Anyhow, I will 
pay up.” 

“ Good heavens, Mr. Herrick, you don’t mean — you 
don’t mean;” but here Cedric could not utter a word 
more, for his voice was choked with sobs. Malcolm could 
just gather a few incoherent expressions — “ benefactor” 
— “ God bless him” — “ eternal gratitude,” or some such 
phrases. 

“Tut, nonsense,” returned Malcolm testily; but his 
eyes were not quite clear, and he laid a kindly hand on the 
boy’s shoulder. “ I want no thanks, only you must prom- 
ise me, on your word as an English gentleman, never to 
play for money as long as you are here.” 

“ I promise — I will vow if you like — there is nothing 
— nothing that I would not promise you. Mr. Herrick, 
you have saved me from disgrace, and Dinah from a 
broken heart.” 

“ Hush, hush !” 

“ No, please let me say one thing more. It is a loan 
— of course I understand that; it may be years before 
I pay it back, but if I live it shall be paid back, every 
penny.” 

“ Oh, we can talk about that in the future,” returned 
Malcolm quickly. He had little hope that Cedric would 
ever be able to repay him. 

“ It shall be paid,” replied the lad firmly. “ My sisters 
are very good to me — and I have more than I need ;” and 
Malcolm’s good sense and knowledge of human nature 
made him hold his tongue. 

It would be a pity to damp the lad’s good resolution, 
and probably the small sacrifices and petty self-denials 
necessary to the settlement of the debt would be valuable 
training, and help to make a man of him; so he said 


22 


HERB OF GRACE 


nothing further on the subject, and a few minutes later 
they parted. 

Malcolm kept his promise, and before the next day was 
over he had paid Cedric’s debt of honour, with a stern 
word of caution to his tempters that turned them chill 
with dismay. 

From this day Cedric attached himself to his benefactor 
with a dog-like fidelity and devotion that secretly touched 
Malcolm. During the latter’s brief visits to Oxford they 
were seldom apart ; and in spite of the disparity between 
their ages, and the marked difference in their tastes, a 
warm mutual attachment sprang up between the two. 
Malcolm was soon put in possession of Cedric’s history 
and manner of life from his boyhood; he listened to 
copious anecdotes of his home and school-days. 

He was soon made aware of Cedric’s crowning ambi- 
tion to take part in the Oxford and Cambridge race, and 
that this honour was the dream and purpose of his life. 

His other purpose, to compete for the Civil Service 
Examination at the close of his university life, seemed 
relegated to the background and scarcely entered into 
his thoughts at all ; and though Malcolm dropped a warn- 
ing word from time to time, he dared not put too much 
pressure on the lad, for he recognised intuitively how 
body and mind were developing under an athlete’s train- 
ing. Cedric’s fame as an oarsman soon reached the ears 
of authority, and at the time of his visit to Lincoln’s Inn 
it was already a foregone conclusion that his name would 
be entered for the next race. 

They talked of this for some time; and then, as the 
storm still raged, Malcolm handed his visitor his own 
copy of the Times, and sat down to answer one or two 
pressing letters. As soon as these were finished and 
Malachi had received his instructions for the next day, 
he tilted his chair back from the table and disposed him- 
self comfortably for further talk. 


FALLEN AMONG THIEVES 


23 


But first there was a little dumb-show on Cedric’s part ; 
for he drew from his breast-pocket a Russian leather 
cigarette-case and held it out with a significant smile. 
But Malcolm waved it away. 

‘‘ Avaunt, Satanus,” he said with dignity. Are you 
aware, my dear fellow, that you are in a place of business 
— a venerable institution sacred to the Muses — and that 
I have to live up to my reputation?” 

“ Oh, I thought you were boss of the whole concern,” 
returned Cedric in a discomfited tone. You are pretty 
safe from visitors on such an afternoon.” 

“ Even if there are no clients, we have a minor prophet 
always on hand,” replied Malcolm. 

Then Cedric laughed. 

Mealy Murphy ! Oh my prophetic soul, I forgot the 
youthful Malachi. I say, Herrick, I was just thinking, 
as you were writing just now, how odd it seems that I 
have known you just two years, and you have never been 
near the Wood House yet.” 

“ It has not been for want of invitations,” returned his 
friend with a smile. Don’t you remember that when 
you first kindly asked me I had arranged to take my 
mother abroad, and the next time I was going to Scotland 
with a friend?” 

“ Oh yes, and the third time you were moving into 
your new diggings in Cheyne Walk.” Cedric spoke with 
a touch of impatience. 

“ But we have often met at Oxford,” observed Malcolm 
smilingly. And then he coloured slightly and continued 
in an embarrassed voice, “ I am afraid, my dear fellow, 
that you have rather wondered that you have not been in- 
vited to No. 27 Queen’s Gate; but, as I once explained 
to you, the house belongs to my mother.” 

'' Just as the Wood House belongs to Dinah and Eliza- 
beth,” returned Cedric. 

“ Ah, just so; but there is a difference. My mother is 


24 


HERB OF GRACE 


not quite like other ladies. Her life, and I may say the 
greater part of her fortune, are devoted to charitable ob- 
jects. If I had invited you to stay with us you would have 
been simply bored to death. Amusement, social obliga- 
tions, the duties we owe to society, do not belong to my 
mother’s creed at all. If I might borrow a word from a 
renowned novelist, I would call her ‘ a charitable grinder,’ 
for she grinds from morning till night at a never-ceasing 
wheel of committees, meetings, and Heaven knows what 
besides.” 

“ She reminds me of the immortal Mrs. Jellyby,” ob- 
served Cedric airily ; but Malcolm shook his head. 

“ No, there is no resemblance. My mother is a clear- 
headed, practical woman. She manages her house her- 
self, and the domestic machinery goes like clockwork. 
The servants know their duty and do their work well : 
and I have heard our old nurse say that one could eat off 
the floor ; but in spite of all this the word ‘ comfort’ does 
not enter my mother’s vocabulary.” 

Good gracious ! Herrick.” 

“ She has splendid health,” continued Malcolm gravely, 
“ and work is a perfect passion with her. She is energy 
incarnate, and among her fellow-workers she is much 
respected. Unfortunately she expects her belongings to 
live up to her standard.” Here Malcolm paused. 

“ You mean Miss Sheldon has to work too?” observed 
Cedric. 

“ Yes, I mean that,” returned Malcolm slowly. She 
is very fond of my mother — they are much attached to 
each other — but there is no doubt that Anna works too 
hard. You can see now,” he went on hurriedly, “ why I 
thought it better to take rooms for myself. I was not in 
sympathy with my mother’s pursuits; and when I left 
Oxford I soon began to realise that life was impossible 
under my mother’s roof. The separation was painful to 
us both, and it nearly broke Anna’s heart, but at the 


FALLEN AMONG THIEVES 


^’5 

present moment I do not think that any of us repents of 
my action.” 

You are all right now, Herrick?” 

“ Yes, I am all right, as you will see for yourself oh 
Friday. My crib just suits me. I have excellent com- 
panionship when I want it, or solitude if I prefer it, and 
though life at Cheyne Walk is a trifle Bohemian after 
Queen’s Gate, I would not exchange it for a palace.” 

“ I am so glad to hear you say that. But, Herrick, I 
begin to be afraid, don’t you know, that you will find the 
Wood House slow. Of course I think no end of my 
sisters ; but you see they are not young.” 

“ So I imagine,'” returned Malcolm, who was secretly 
disposed to agree with Cedric. Two maiden ladies of un- 
certain age might be endeared to their brother ; but Mal- 
colm, who was rather fastidious on the subject of female 
beauty, was not over-anxious to cultivate their acquaint- 
ance. 

“ Dinah is much older than Elizabeth,” continued 
Cedric confidentially. “ There were two or three brothers 
and sisters between them, only they died. She is^ over 
forty, you know, and Elizabeth is nearly thirty. There 
is a good bit of difference — only she never makes herself 
out young. You will be sure to like them,” went on the 
lad eagerly; “ they are good women, and just your sort.” 

“ Oh, I daresay we shall get on first-rate,” returned 
Malcolm mendaciously, for he was anything but certain 
of it. “ Hallo, old fellow,” interrupting himself, “ the 
storm is over and we can make tracks now.” And then 
they went out together. 

As they parted at the Temple station, Cedric pushed 
a little sealed packet into his friend’s hand. 

‘‘ It is the first instalment,” he whispered, growing very 
red ; “ don’t open it till you get back.” But Malcolm’s 
curiosity would not allow him to wait ; and when Cedric 
had disappeared into the station he broke the seal. To 


26 


HERB OF GRACE 


his surprise there were fifty pounds in notes and gold, 
the saving and scrapings of two years. 

“ Good lad/’ he murmured approvingly, as he stowed 
it carefully away in a breast-pocket, and a thrill of pride 
and pleasure shot through him. Yes, he must keep it, 
he thought; he could not affront his young manliness 
and independence by returning it. ” It is what I should 
have done in his case,” he said to himself. And then he 
thought that he would lay out part in buying a keepsake 
for Anna. There was a little brooch she had much ad- 
mired, a mere toy of a thing, a tiny quiver full of arrows, 
studded with small diamonds and tipped with a pearl. 
The shop where they had noticed it was close by, and he 
would buy it at once. But as Malcolm hurried off on this 
kindly errand he little realised what the joy of that pos- 
session would be to Anna Sheldon. 


CHAPTER III 


A PAGE OF ANCIENT HISTORY 

Before we can bring happiness to others, we must first be 
happy ourselves; nor will happiness abide within us unless we 
confer it on others. — Maeterlinck. 

During the preceding hour or two Malcolm’s face had 
worn its brightest and most youthful aspect — the society 
of Cedric had roused him and taken him out of himself ; 
but as he approached the handsome and imposing-look- 
ing house where his mother lived, his countenance re- 
sumed its normal gravity. 

To him it had been a house of bondage, and he had 
never regarded it as a home ; his environment from boy- 
hood had not suited him, and though he loved his mother, 
and gave her, at least outwardly, the obedience and 
honour that were due to her, there had not been that 
sympathy between them that one would have expected 
from an only son to a widowed mother. 

Malcolm’s father had died when he was about six years 
old, but his infant recollections of him were wonderfully 
vivid. He remembered waking up one night from some 
childish dream that had frightened him, to see a kind 
face bending over him, and to feel warm, strong arms 
lifting him up. 

Never mind. Sonny, father’s with you,” he heard a 
cheery voice say. 

“ Daddy’s wid baby,” he repeated drowsily, as he 
nestled down in his father’s arms. ‘‘ Nice, nice daddy,” 
and two hot little hands patted his face. 

Then a voice in the distance said, ^^You are spoiling 
him, Rupert. Malcolm ought to be a brave boy and not 

27 


28 


HERB OF GRACE 


cry on account of a silly dream.” Of course it was his 
mother who spoke; even from his infancy her method 
of education had been bracing. “ Baby isn’t a boy, 
mower,” he had once said in extenuation of some child- 
ish fault ; “ mower must not punish Baby.” 

The memories of early childhood are always vague and 
hazy; but in the distance, among shifting forms and 
changing prospects, there was always a big, big figure, 
with kind eyes and strong arms, looming largely in his 
recollection. 

“If my father had lived, I know we should have been 
such friends,” Malcolm would sigh to himself in his 
growing youth ; and though his mother never suspected 
it, he often looked at his father’s portrait that hung in 
her dressing-room, until his eyes were full of tears. “If 
father had lived, I shouldn’t have been so lonely and 
out of it all,” he would say as he turned away with a 
quivering lip. 

Mrs. Herrick tried to do her duty by the boy ; but she 
was a busy v/oman, and had no leisure to devote to his 
amusement. The long holidays were more pleasant in 
anticipation to both mother and son than they proved in 
reality. 

In the working hive at 27 Queen’s Gate there seemed 
no place for the restless, growing lad. His mother was 
always shut up in the library, where she wrote her endless 
letters and reports and added up her accounts, and Anna 
was with her governess. 

Malcolm would be put in Anderson’s charge, the 
steady, reliable butler and factotum, and introduced to 
all the sights of London — Westminster Abbey and St. 
Paul’s, the Tower, and the British Museum, the Zoologi- 
cal Gardens, and Madame Tussaud’s. Sometimes they 
went to Kew, or Richmond Park, or took the steamer 
to Hampton Court. The nearest approach to dissipation 
was an afternoon spent with the Christy Minstrels. Mrs. 


A PAGE OF ANCIENT HISTORY 


29 


lierrick would not hear of the theatre ; but once, sad to 
relate, when Anderson was indisposed, and the footman, 
a rather feeble-minded young man, had been sent with 
Malcolm to see a panorama that was considered interest- 
ing and instructing, Malcolm, by sundry bribes and many 
blandishments, had seduced his guardian into accompany- 
ing him to Drury Lane, where they sat in the pit, side 
by side, and watched with breathless interest the never- 
to-be-forgotten pantomime of “ Jack and the Bean-Stalk.” 

“ They’ll run you in for this. Master Malcolm,” 
Charles had observed ruefully, as they hurried through 
the dark streets. “ If I lose my place it will be all along 
of you, and it is a good place too, though Mr. Anderson 
is a bit down on one.” But, strange to say, they escaped 
scot-free. Mrs. Herrick had not returned from a mon- 
ster meeting at St. James’s Hall, and Anderson had re- 
tired to bed to nurse his cold. Malcolm confided the 
whole story of his escapade to Anna, and she had wept 
with grief and dismay. Oh, Mally, how wicked of 
Charles to take you !” she sobbed. “ I never did think 
he looked quite good. Mother would be so angry and 
unhappy if she knew; she says theatres are not good 
for young people.” 

‘‘ It is just a crank on mother’s part,” returned Mal- 
colm loudly ; his eyes were bright with excitement. “ It 
was the loveliest thing you ever saw, Anna. The Prin- 
cess was a beauty, and no mistake ; even Charles thought 
so, and he has seen princesses by the score. I am glad 
I went; the boys won’t think me such a duffer when I 
tell them. Don’t shake your head, Anna ; you are a girl, 
and you don’t understand how much one has to put up 
with from the fellows. They call me the Puritan, and 
ask if I wear pinafores at home. But I stopped that,” 
and here Malcolm doubled up his fists in a singularly 
suggestive manner. 

Malcolm’s only sister, a pretty, fair-haired girl, had 


30 


HERB OF GRACE 


died of fever when she was eight years old, and for years 
Mrs. Herrick had felt her loss too deeply to mention her 
name. If Florence had lived,” she once said rather 
bitterly to her son, ‘‘ she would have been my close com- 
panion, and we should have thought alike on all points 
but it may be doubted if this maternal dream would ever 
have been realised. 

A mere accident had^ led to the adoption of Anna 
Sheldon shortly after Florence’s death. She was the 
orphan child of a young artist in whom Mrs. Herrick 
had interested herself, and when the broken-hearted wife 
had followed her husband, Mrs. Herrick had taken the 
lonely child home. 

The kind action had brought its own reward. Anna’s 
gentleness and sweetness of disposition soon won the 
affection of her adopted mother. She was submissive by 
nature, and yielded readily to the opinions and wishes of 
those she loved. Mrs. Herrick’s ideas on the subject of 
education might be bracing and invigorating, but there 
was nothing oppressive in her rule. Perhaps she under- 
stood girls better than boys, for Anna thrived under her 
system. The old nurse, Mrs. Dawson, who still officiated 
as Mrs. Herrick’s personal attendant, taught her needle- 
work; an excellent governess, who was both judicious 
and reasonable, presided over the schoolroom and accom- 
panied her in her walks; nor was she entirely without 
companions, for she attended dancing and deportment 
classes with the young daughters of their vicar, a much- 
esteemed guide, philosopher, and friend to the Herrick 
family. 

Until the governess. Miss Greenwood, left them to be 
married, and Anna grew up to woman’s estate, her life 
was as happy as most girls’. The chief events in it were 
Malcolm’s holidays. Anna looked forward to them for 
months beforehand, and she always cried herself to sleep 
the day he left. 


A PAGE OF ANCIENT HISTORY 


31 


She and her adopted mother were the best of friends. 
Anna regarded Mrs. Herrick as one of the noblest of 
women, and her dutiful submission and anxiety to please 
her benefactress secretly surprised Malcolm. 

Mrs. Herrick was not a demonstrative woman, but in 
her own way she was very good to Anna ; she encouraged 
her to call her mother, bought her pretty dresses and 
ornaments such as girls loved, but there Anna’s list of 
privileges was at an end. It never struck Mrs. Herrick 
that she had simply no life of her own — that at seven- 
teen or eighteen a girl craves for congenial companion- 
ship, pleasant occupation, and a fair amount of amuse- 
ment. 

When Anna was liberated from the schoolroom, she 
would have liked to go to picture-galleries, attend con- 
certs, and mix with interesting people; in spite of her 
shyness and gentleness, she had plenty of mind and char- 
acter, and Malcolm had already cultivated her artistic 
tastes. One summer, indeed, they had gone abroad, and 
Malcolm had been with them, and for two months Anna 
felt they had been in the anteroom of Paradise. 

The summer we spent in Switzerland and in the 
Austrian Tyrol,” were words perpetually on Anna’s lips. 
Poor child, she little guessed, as she built up wonderful 
castles in the air, that it would be long before she had 
such a holiday again. 

It was an evil moment for Anna when she volunteered 
to learn typewriting, that she might help her adopted 
mother; from that day she became the willing slave 
bound at the chariot wheels of a good-natured despot. 
No amount of work tired Mrs. Herrick; she had the 
strength and vitality of ten women. It never entered 
her head that a growing girl in her teens was liable to 
flag and grow weary, and so the pretty pink roses that 
had bloomed among Alpine snows faded out of Anna’s 
cheeks, and the soft brown eyes grew heavy. 


32 HERB OF GRACE 

Anna never complained; if her back ached and her 
head was hot and throbbing, Mrs. Herrick never knew 
it, and she was quite indignant when Malcolm spoke to 
her of Anna’s changed looks. 

“ She is not strong, and she is doing far too much. 
Dawson and I both think so.” Perhaps he spoke with 
some degree of bluntness, for Mrs. Herrick responded 
with unusual irritability. 

“ I am very much obliged to you and Dawson,” she 
returned rather sarcastically, “ for your solicitude on 
Anna’s account, but I believe I am still quite equal to 
the charge of looking after her.” 

“ Oh, if you take it in that way,” retorted Malcolm 
in an offended voice; and then Mrs. Herrick resumed 
her smooth manner. She was a good-tempered woman, 
and seldom indulged in sarcasm; but things had gone 
wrong that morning, and her young secretary had made 
several mistakes. Anna had at last been obliged in her 
own self-defence to own that she had a severe headache. 

Mrs. Herrick had just sent her to her own room to 
lie down, and had rung for Dawson to attend her. She 
was sadly inconvenienced by this untoward accident, and 
it was at this inauspicious moment that Malcolm lodged 
his complaint. 

If these headaches continue I shall ask Dr. Arm- 
strong to look in,” she continued tranquilly. “ Anna’s 
services are most valuable to me. I almost feel lost with- 
out her. It was a good day for me when she threw 
herself into the work ; it makes me regret my dear child 
less, to feel that Anna sympathises with me so entirely ;” 
and, in spite of himself, Malcolm felt a little touched by 
these words. 

A few weeks later he spoke to Anna ; the girl had not 
recovered her looks, and Nurse Dawson told him pri- 
vately that she was losing her appetite and getting thin; 
but Anna’s eyes filled with tears at the first words. 


A PAGE OF ANCIENT HISTORY 33 

Oh hush, dear Malcolm, please,” she said, encircling 
his wrist with her soft hand; it was a favourite caress 
with her, and Malcolm used playfully to term it “ Anna’s 
handcuff,” or the “ Sheldon shackles.” In spite of their 
close intimacy as brother and sister, he had never kissed 
her, but there was entire confidence between them. 

‘‘ Please, please, Malcolm, do not say any more ; it 
was very wrong of nurse to put these ideas in your head. 
You know mother spoke to Dr. Armstrong, and he is 
giving me a tonic ; he says I must go out more, so mother 
is trying to spare me all she can.” 

“ And the headaches are better ?” Malcolm looked at 
her quite sternly as he put the question. 

'' Yes, I think so — I hope so,” rather hesitatingly, for 
Anna was absolutely truthful. I still feel rather stupid 
of an evening; but mother is so good, she lets me go to 
bed early.” 

She sighed rather heavily. I wish I were stronger, 
Malcolm. Nurse says I have never been robust. I do 
so love to help mother. I always feel as though I can 
never do enough to show my gratitude to her. What 
would have become of me when my parents died if 
she had not brought me here. We were so dreadfully 
poor, and had so few friends. Oh Malcolm, think of 
it,” and then she whispered in his ear, they would 
have taken me to the workhouse — there was nothing 
else.” 

“ Nonsense — rubbish,” began Malcolm wrathfully ; but 
Anna put her hand upon his lips. 

No, dear, not nonsense. I am telling you th® sober 
truth — mother would endorse it. Do you think I do not 
owe her a life’s service and love for all her dear care of 
me ! 

“ If I am tired, I glory in my fatigue, for it is for my 
adopted mother and her poor that I am working;” and 
Anna’s eyes were very soft and bright. “ Malcolm, you 

3 


34 


HERB OF GRACE 


have no idea how much happier she is now I share her 
work. I know she never complained of her loneliness 
— it is not her way to complain — but she has missed 
Florence so terribly. We talk of her sometimes, mother 
and I,” continued the girl thoughtfully, “ and she tells 
me what a sweet daughter she would have been, and 
how we should have been sisters. It is so dear of her 
never to exclude me, even when she is thinking and talk- 
ing of Florence. ‘ If my little girl had lived,’ she said 
once, ^ I should have had two daughters.’ ” 

Malcolm had to hold his tongue at last, but he grumbled 
freely to Nurse Dawson. In her he had a staunch ally; 
the old woman was devoted to Anna, and by no means 
sided with her mistress. 

“ You see it is just this way, Mr. Malcolm, my dear,” 
she said to him once ; “ the mistress, bless her heart, 
thinks of nothing but them charitable societies, from 
morning till night; they are more to her than meat or 
drink or rest. She is as strong as a horse, and so she 
is never tired like other folks. Why, my dear, I have 
known her spend a whole day going from one meeting 
to another, speechifying and reading reports, and yet 
when I have gone up to dress her in the evening she 
has been as fresh as paint. She is made of cast-iron, 
that’s my belief,” continued Dawson, who secretly adored 
her mistress ; but cast-iron is one thing and a fragile 
blossom like Miss Anna is another, as I made bold to 
tell my mistress the other day ; ‘ for it stands to reason, 
ma’am,’ I said to her, ‘ that a young creature like Miss 
Anna is not seasoned and toughened like a lady of 
your age, and I never did think much of her constitu- 
tion.’ ” 

And what did my mother say to that, Dawson ?” 

Well, dearie, she had a deal to say, for I am free to 
confess that my mistress is never at a loss for words. 
She argued with me for pretty nigh half an hour — until 


A PAGE OF ANCIENT HISTORY 35 

she made things look so different that I did not know 
whether I was on my head or my heels. 

She would have it that every one ought to work, old 
or young, rich or poor; that she loved Miss Anna all 
the better for so readily offering herself for the work. 
‘ I should have left her free,’ she said that, Mr. Mal- 
colm — ' no one in my house should be compelled or 
urged to put their hand to the plough ; but when she 
came to me of her own accord I could have wept with 
joy.’ ” 

“ Did my mother really say that, Dawson ?” 

Ay, Mr. Malcolm, she did ; and begging your par- 
don, dearie, you do not half understand my mistress. 
She is quiet-spoken, and does not show her feelings; 
but she has a warm heart. I know as well as you do 
that our poor child is put upon and overworked, but she 
is the sunshine of my mistress’s life; that’s what makes 
things so difficult, for Miss Anna is bent on helping her, 
and will not listen to a word.’^ 

Malcolm soon found he must hold his peace, and very 
soon his mind was too much absorbed by his own con- 
cerns. After a time he got used to Anna’s pale cheeks; 
she had refused to listen to his advice, and must dree 
her weird. 

He had his own battles to fight, and victory was not 
easily achieved ; nevertheless his masculine will pre- 
vailed. 

It was no hastily considered resolution that determined 
Malcolm to leave his mother’s roof and set up in cham- 
bers of his own, neither did he effect his purpose without 
a good deal of pain; but, as he told Cedric, life at 27 
Queen’s Gate was becoming impossible to him. 

But it was one of the worst moments of his life when 
he announced his intention to his mother. She listened 
to his embarrassed explanation silently, and without 
offering any interruption; but her pleasant, strong- 


36 


HERB OF GRACE 


featured face grew set and stern, and when he had 
finished she looked at him almost solemnly. 

“ He was the only son of his mother, and she was a 
widow,” she said slowly and sadly, and no word of re- 
proach could have stung him more deeply. It made him 
angry. 

“ Mother, you have no right to say that, and to speak 
as though I were failing in my duty towards you,” he 
returned indignantly ; “ it is not fair — all my life I have 
tried to please you, and to carry out your wishes.” 

“ I am not complaining of you, Malcolm,” she replied 
quietly ; “ your own conscience is accusing you, not your 
mother. Would you have me suppress the truth or tell 
you a lie? Do you think any mother could listen un- 
moved to what you have told me just now — that you 
intend to leave my roof, that my only son finds his home 
so uncongenial, and his life here so irksome, that he is 
forced to quit it?” 

“ Mother, you are making things worse and worse,” 
returned Malcolm passionately ; ‘‘ you are putting mat- 
ters in a wrong light. Will you listen to me a mo- 
ment?” 

‘‘ Have I ever refused to listen to you, my son ?” and 
a softer and more motherly expression came into the gray 
eyes. 

No, you have always been kind,” he replied ; but 
there was a slight quiver in his voice. ‘‘ Mother, it is 
not my fault — at least I hope not — that we think so 
differently on most subjects. I am nearly eight-and- 
twenty, and at that age a man is bound to do the best 
for himself.” 

“ I hoped you would have married before this, Mal- 
colm.” 

“ There is no question of marrying at present,” he re- 
turned in a constrained voice. “ I have not yet seen the 
woman whom I wish to make my wife.” 


A PAGE OF ANCIENT HISTORY 37 

Then a singular expression crossed Mrs. Herrick’s 
face. 

I am sorry to hear that, Malcolm ; I would have 
willingly given you up to a wife, but life in chambers 
seems to me so Bohemian.” 

“ It is only an idea,” he returned impatiently. “ Mother 
dear, try to believe that I am doing it for ' the best — for 
both our sakes. I am not leaving you alone — you have 
Anna; and in spite of all your kindness to me, I am 
well aware that I have never been any real help or com- 
fort; if I thought you needed me — that you relied on 
me for assistance or protection — I would never have 
carved out this independent life.” 

'' It is the spirit of the age,” she returned a little bit- 
terly ; it is the children who make terms, and the parents 
who have to yield and submit.” 

That is an old argument, mother,” replied Malcolm 
wearily ; “ how often we have gone over that ground, 
you and I. When our wills have clashed it seems to 
me the concessions have all been on my side. How many 
men of my age do you suppose would have yielded to 
you in the matter of a latch-key? Poor old Anderson 
has been the chief sufferer, and the victim of your strict- 
ness; do you think it has not troubled me to keep him 
up night after night?” 

“ Anderson is my servant, and has to do his duty,” 
replied Mrs. Herrick rather stiffly.' 

And he has done it,” was Malcolm’s answer ; he 
has been perfectly conscientious; if he grumbled a bit 
now and then, no one could wonder, at his age. Mother, 
it is no good talking — it is not only the question of the 
latch-key, I want to have a place where I can be free 
to lead my own life and see my own friends; there is 
no room for them here — your busy life is too much 
crowded up with work to have leisure for society.” 

I have never refused to entertain your friends, Mai- 


38 


HERB OF GRACE 


colm;’' and a dull red flush crossed the mother’s face, 
as though this reproach had gone home. 

“ Possibly not,” rather coldly, “ I do not think I have 
ever asked you ; but, mother, let us make an end of this. 
The first break will be painful to all of us, but we shall 
soon shake down, and then you and Anna will own that 
it was for the best. When you want me I shall always 
be at your service. I shall see you every few days — 
Cheyne Walk and Queen’s Gate are not very far apart. 
As soon as I am settled, you and Anna must come and 
have tea with me, and I must introduce you to the Kes- 
tons. Now, mother dear, say something comforting to 
a fellow and then Mrs. Herrick smiled faintly. She 
loved her son far too well to hurt him by her reproaches ; 
in her secret heart she strongly disapproved of the step 
he was taking, but she was a sensible woman, and knew 
that it was no good crying over spilt milk. 

At eight-and-twenty a man may refuse with some show 
of reason to be attached to his mother’s leading-strings, 
and may also be permitted to strike out new paths for 
himself. Nevertheless, for many a long day Mrs. Her- 
rick carried a heavy heart, and only her adopted daughter 
guessed how sorely Malcolm was missed by his mother. 


CHAPTER IV 


ANNA 

Better to feel a love within 
Than be lovely to the sight! 

Better a homely tenderness 
Than beauty’s wild delight! 

MacDonald. 

Malcolm often spent a night at Queen’s Gate; he 
made a point of never refusing his mother’s invitations, 
and would even put off an engagement if she needed him. 
On this occasion he had promised to remain two nights. 

A meeting on behalf of a college in Japan, for training 
native candidates for holy orders, was to be held at 27 
Queen’s Gate that evening, and some excellent speakers — 
women as well as men — had been announced for that oc- 
casion. Mrs. Herrick thought the whole subject would 
appeal to Malcolm, and in this she was not wrong. 
Hitherto he had fought shy of zenana meetings, barmaid 
associations, working girls’ clubs, open-air spaces, and 
people’s parks, and even cabmen’s shelters and drinking 
fountains. 

“ They were all good and worthy objects,” he had ob- 
served to Anna, and he could have tackled them singly, 
but not when they were piled on ad nauseum. But the 
Japanese college had been largely discussed in his special 
circle, and also in the paper of which he was the editor — 
the Times had even devoted one of its columns to the sub- 
ject; and Mrs. Herrick had been secretly much gratified 
by Malcolm’s readiness to be present. 

The Bishop will be with us,” she said, with an in- 
flexion of pride in her tone; “he is over here just now 

39 


40 


HERB OF GRACE 


on account of his wife’s health, and has promised to take 
the chair.” Then Malcolm signified his perfect willing- 
ness to make his Lordship’s acquaintance, and to listen 
to any amount of speeches ; and Mrs. Herrick had gone 
to her bed that night a happy woman. 

Why could not Malcolm be always like that? she 
thought, and then she sighed gently as she took her Bible 
in her hand. 

It opened of its own accord at Samuel’s childhood and 
Hannah’s solemn dedication of her first-born; no pas- 
sages in the well-read book had been rnore frequently 
perused. 

Of all the characters of holy writ, this Jewish mother 
appealed most forcibly to her imagination : the little coat' 
brought year by year to the Temple child, the precious 
sacrifice and oblation made in gratitude for an answered 
prayer, the pride and joy of the mother’s heart, as she 
stood in the court of the women and saw her boy minis- 
tering in his fair linen ephod, seemed to touch her irre- 
sistibly, and in her secret soul she had envied Hannah. 

The evening was to be devoted to this important meet- 
ing, but the next day Malcolm had promised to take Anna 
for an outing — it would be her birthday — and already 
they had made and rejected many plans. Kew, Rich- 
mond, Hampton Court, and Henley had all been pro- 
posed ; but Anna had been indifferent to each. She had 
been to the Royal Academy more than once, and all the 
best concerts were over; the weather was too hot for 
sight-seeing, and in her present state of languor she 
dreaded fatigue and crowds. “ What did the place mat- 
ter after all,” she said to herself, “ as long as Malcolm 
was with her? Her rest and enjoyment were in his 
society — to sit beside him and listen to his dear voice, and 
tell him all her little joys and troubles.” 

The programme was still a blank when Malcolm 
knocked at his mother’s door. Anderson received him 


ANNA 


41 


with a beaming face. The old man had grown a trifle 
stiff and rheumatic of late years, but he still kept a sharp 
eye on his coadjutor — the weak-minded and erring 
Charles. 

They are not expecting you just yet, Mr. Malcolm,” 
observed Anderson respectfully ; “ the mistress has a 
committee in the library, and Miss Anna is in the draw- 
ing-room along with Charles and the carpenter, arranging 
the seats.” 

“What time do they dine, Anderson?” Malcolm put 
the question with some indifference — he knew quite well 
what the answer would be. 

“ Why, you see, Mr. Malcolm, it is past six now,” re- 
turned Anderson apologetically, “ and the meeting’s for 
eight, and the mistress said there would be no time for 
dinner as the committee would not break up until seven, 
so she will have a cup of tea and a sandwich.” 

“ Oh, indeed,” returned Malcolm drily. “ I suppose 
Miss Anna and I are to be regaled on the same fare.” 

“ No, sir, I think not. I believe Miss Anna and Daw- 
son have contrived some sort of meal for you in the 
schoolroom. They have done their best, Mr. Malcolm; 
but what with committees and deputations and Heaven 
knows what, my mistress has been driven almost out of 
her senses. The maids are in the dining-room now, for 
there’s to be tea and light refreshment ; and they’ve been 
behindhand too with the plants from Covent Garden, 
drat them,” muttered the old man irritably. He was a 
faithful servant, and true to his mistress’s interests; but 
he was growing old, and there were times when he longed 
to sit quietly under his own fig tree, in the Surrey village 
where he was born, where meetings and committees were 
unknown. 

“ Never mind, Anderson,” returned Malcolm pleas- 
antly, “ we cannot entertain a Bishop without some degree 
of fuss and discomfort. I will go up and find Miss Anna ; 


42 


HERB OF GRACE 


I daresay she has nearly finished.” But as he ascended 
the handsome staircase, he was not so certain in his own 
mind that this was a foregone conclusion; and again he 
blessed the day when he had pitched his tent in the quiet 
pasturage of Chelsea, where bishops and committees 
and drawing-room meetings never interrupted his lawful 
meals, or impaired his digestion ; for Malcolm, like many 
other men, abhorred that nondescript meal so dear to the 
feminine mind, a meat tea. The wide, softly-carpeted 
staircase led to a spacious landing-place, fitted up with 
couches and easy-chairs, and ending in a small but pretty 
conservatory. 

The drawing-room was a large, well-proportioned 
room, with a curtained archway opening into a smaller 
one, which went by the name of the music room. Here 
there was a grand piano and a fine harmonium ; the latter 
was Mrs. Herrick’s special instrument. The drawing- 
room wore its usual aspect on these occasions ; rows of 
chairs and cushioned benches occupied the entire floor 
space, and overflowed into the inner apartment. 

A crimson covered dais or platform, decorated with 
plants in full bloom, and tall spreading palms, with a 
semicircle of comfortable easy-chairs, was the chief feat- 
ure in the arrangements ; and here, with the evening sun- 
shine streaming on her, stood a tall slim girl in a white 
dress, with a loose cluster of Shirley poppies in her hand. 

It made such a pretty picture that Malcolm stood quite 
spell-bound: the crimson dais was such a rich back- 
ground to the soft creamy white of the girl’s dress, while 
the poppies held so carelessly added to the effect; even 
the sunshine filtering through the partially drawn cur- 
tains gilded the fair hair until it shone like gold. Mal- 
colm was almost sorry when Anna caught sight of him, 
and ran down the steps towards him with a bright smile 
of welcome, and two hands outstretched. 

'' Oh, Malcolm, I never thought you would be here yet,” 


ANNA 


43 

she said, and her voice was very soft and clear ; “ but I 
am so glad to see you, and I have quite finished/’ 

Anna Sheldon was not a pretty girl, but people always 
said she was so interesting. Her figure was well formed 
and graceful, and her expression and smile were remark- 
ably sweet ; but her features were by no means faultless, 
and her want of colour was certainly a defect. She had 
beautiful hair, which was fine and fluffy as a baby’s ; its 
tint was rather too colourless, but she wore it in a style 
that exactly suited her. At this moment, when her eyes 
were bright with pleasure and there was a flush on her 
face, Anna certainly looked pretty, but such moments 
were transient with her. 

Malcolm pressed her hands affectionately; then he 
looked her over with brotherly freedom. 

“ You look very nice, dear. I see you are dressed for 
the evening; are those poppies part of the toilette?” 

Then Anna laughed and fingered her pearl necklace 
as though she were embarrassed by his scrutiny. “ No, 
of course not — what an absurd question. Fancy flowers 
at a drawing-room meeting. I am going to put them in 
a vase directly. Now, as mother is engaged just now, I 
am going to take you to the schoolroom, and nurse will 
give us something to eat.” 

“ Feminine nectar and ambrosia, I imagine,” muttered 
Malcolm to himself, for he had partaken frequently of 
these schoolroom feasts. But he was determined to make 
the best of things during his short visit, so he linked his 
arm in Anna’s and said cheerfully, “ Lead on, Hebe, and 
don’t scatter poppies as you go,” which was exactly what 
she was doing. The schoolroom was still Anna’s special 
room, although it had changed its character of late years. 
It was a large, cheerful front room, two floors above the 
drawing-room, and Anna had made it very pretty and 
comfortable. Here she kept her books and all her treas- 
ures, and here her canaries twittered and sang in the sun- 


44 


HERB OF GRACE 


shine. Malcolm, who loaded her with presents, had him- 
self selected the handsomely framed prints that adorned 
the walls ; his favourite Huguenot,” and “ The Black 
Brunswicker,” and Luke Fildes’s “ Doctor,” and some of 
Leader’s landscapes, had their places there. In this room 
Anna spent her leisure hours, few and far between as 
they were; here she read and thought and wrote her 
letters to Malcolm — sweet, maidenly letters, which he 
read lightly and tossed aside with a smile, not unkindly, 
but with the preoccupied carelessness of a busy man. 

The sound of their voices brought Dawson to the door. 
She was a little pincushiony woman, with bunched-up 
gray curls, which she wore in defiance of all prevailing 
fashions, and of which she was secretly very proud ; her 
complexion was still as clear and pink as a girl’s ; and 
her somewhat wide mouth was garnished by the whitest 
of teeth. It was Dawson’s boast that she had never sat in 
a dentist’s chair in her life. 

I am sixty-five if I am a day,” she would say, with a 
quick little birdlike nod that always emphasised her state- 
ments ; “ but there, mother was eighty-three when the 
palsy took her, and she hadn’t a gap in her mouth, dear 
soul.” 

Malcolm always kissed his old nurse, for there was a 
warm attachment between them; and indeed he never 
forgot that he had owed all his childish comfort to her. 

“ Blessed is he who expecteth nothing,” observes the 
wise man, and Malcolm, who had indulged in moderate 
expectations in which the teapot loomed largely, was 
somewhat surprised by the agreeable sight of quite a 
tasteful little dinner-table laid for two, with a half-filled 
vase in the centre for which the poppies were evidently 
intended. Anna smiled delightedly when she saw his 
face, and at once proceeded to arrange her flowers, while 
Dawson bustled about and rang the bell, and chattered 
like an amiable magpie. In a very short time the weak- 


ANNA 


45 


minded Charles, now a reformed and steady character 
and engaged to the head housemaid, brought in the tray, 
and a modest and appetising little meal was served. Cut- 
lets with sauce piquant and pigeon pie, salad such as Mal- 
colm loved, and a delicate pudding which seemed nothing 
but froth and sweets, while an excellent bottle of hock, 
sent up by Anderson, completed the repast. 

“ I wish mother could have joined, us,” observed Anna 
regretfully ; “ I did my best to persuade her, but she said 
there was no time. The people have not gone yet, and 
she has to dress, you see, so she said she would have 
some tea in her dressing-room and talk to you later.” 

“ I must just see about getting the mistress’s things 
ready,” interrupted Dawson, but she spoke in a grumbling 
tone. “ Don’t you fash yourself, Mr. Malcolm, — I told 
Charles to unpack your Gladstone and put out your 
clothes ready for the evening. My mistress won’t be 
dressed, you may take my word for it, for a good three- 
quarters of an hour. There is nothing like a committee 
for dawdling along, and keeping one standing on one leg 
as it were, like a pelican in the wilderness, or a stuffed 
goose, or anything you like to call it. Don’t you let Mr. 
Malcolm hurry his dinner. Miss Anna, for there is 
nothing so bad for the digestion ; a good digestion comes 
next to a good conscience in my opinion,” and Dawson 
hurried away, all ready primed with a scolding for her 
mistress — sandwiches being like the proverbial red rag 
to a bull to this excellent woman. 

“ Such a pack of nonsense,” she ejaculated, as she 
took down the black satin dress from its place in the ward- 
robe and shook out its lustrous folds, “ a lady of her 
age, just passed fifty, and acting as though she were in 
her teens ;” for Dawson, who was a privileged person, 
always spoke her mind to her mistress; indeed, it was 
rumoured in the household that Mrs. Herrick stood some- 
what in awe of her faithful retainer, and it was certainly 


46 


HERB OF GRACE 


the fact that if any of the servants had incurred their 
mistress’s displeasure, Dawson was always the mediator, 
and brought the apology or conciliatory message. Mrs. 
Herrick had a great respect for the straightforward, 
honest little woman, who was never afraid to speak the 
truth on any occasion, and she was sufficiently magnani- 
mous to forgive her sharp speeches. 

“ Dawson is worth her weight in gold,” she would say 
sometimes. “ When the children were young I was never 
afraid to leave them in her charge, I knew I could trust 
her and once she said with a sigh, “ I cannot forget her 
devotion to my dear Florence. She watched beside her 
night and day, and yet there were other nurses. I shall 
never forget her saying to me, ‘ Dear Miss Flo mustn’t 
wake up and find herself amongst strangers, or she will 
be scared, poor lamb. She will like to see her old nurse’s 
face, bless her,’ and it seemed to us all as though she 
lived without sleep. She was right too,” went on Mrs. 
Herrick softly, ” for when Florence caught sight of her 
she put out her arms with such a smile. * It is my own 
dear nurse,’ they heard her say — those were my darling’s 
last words.” 

When Dawson had left the room Malcolm looked at 
Anna with a smile. 

‘‘ Well,” he said tentatively, “ have you made up your 
mind about to-morrow ; is it to be Kew, or Cookham and 
Henley?” But to his surprise the question seemed to 
embarrass the girl. 

“ We have been so often to Kew,” she returned in a 
hesitating voice ; and though the Quarry woods are 
delightful, it will be so hot on the river. There is some- 
thing I should like so much better, but I am afraid you 
will laugh at me.” But as Malcolm continued to look 
at her with an indulgent smile, she went on with renewed 
courage — 

I hope you will not think me absurd, but I should so 


ANNA 


47 


love to see your chambers in Lincoln’s Inn, and Malachi, 
and the pigeons, and little Kit with the curly red fringe, 
and the old cobbler; and afterwards,” and here Anna 
caught her breath with excitement, “ we could go to 
Cheyne Walk and have tea and look at the river and talk.” 

‘‘ My dear child,” in quite a startled voice, “ what a 
programme for a birthday !” 

“ It will be just lovely,” returned Anna with sparkling 
eyes. ‘‘ I do so long to see Goliath and Yea- Verily and 
Babs. You know, Malcolm, I have only been twice to 
your rooms in Cheyne Walk — once with mother, and once 
when we had been to the Albert Hall — and each time the 
Kestons were away.” 

“ And you want to see little Verity. I am not sure 
that she is quite up to your mark, Anna ; she and Goliath 
are rather Bohemian.” 

“ Oh, but you like her, and she makes you so happy 
and comfortable. I want to know your friends, Malcolm ; 
it seems to bring you nearer,” and Anna’s eyes grew 
wistful. 

“ Are you sure my mother will approve of your pro- 
gramme ?” 

Then Anna smiled and nodded assent. 

She will call me a silly, fanciful child,” she replied 
laughing. “ Mother does not understand sentimentality ; 
but I am a privileged person on my birthday. Now, 
Malcolm, please do not throw cold water on my little 
scheme.” 

“ Certainly not ; we will go to the Seven Dials if you 
like. Only I wish I had known beforehand. Verity is 
occasionally like the renowned Mother Hubbard, her cup- 
board is bare. You will have to put up with plain bread 
and butter, I expect.” 

“ What does that matter !” returned Anna scornfully. 
“ Thank you, Malcolm dear. Then we will have a real 
^ood time.” 


48 


HERB OF GRACE 


“ I think we shall be able to carry out your modest 
programme,” replied Malcolm. Wait a moment, I have 
an idea. Suppose ' we beard the lion in his den in 
other words, look up Caleb Martin and my umbrella in 
Todmorden’s Lane ?” And then he gave Anna a graphic 
account of the little adventure, and, as he expected, re- 
ceived her warm approval. 

Oh yes, you shall take me there too,” she observed. 

I must see that poor little Kit ; it was so like you to 
think of her comfort;” and here Anna laid a soft little 
hand on his coat-sleeve. Malcolm, I am afraid I ought 
not to let you talk any longer. I heard mother go into her 
dressing-room ten minutes ago, and she is never long over 
her toilet.” 

“ That means I must get into my war paint too, or 
Dawson will be coming in search of me;” and then he 
went off to his old room, leaving Anna looking thought- 
fully out of the window. 

“ To-morrow I shall be one-and-twenty,” she said to 
herself ; “ it seems a great age, but Malcolm is nearly 
nine years older.” And then she added to herself in a 
whisper, “ And from morning to night we shall be to- 
gether, just he and I, our own two selves,” and there was 
a soft look of contentment on Anna’s face. 


CHAPTER V 


MRS. HERRICK OBJECTS TO BOHEMIA 

We fear originality as a coat which is too new, and do our 
utmost to be like the rest of the world. — Carmen Sylva. 

Life is work. . . . Life without work is unworthy of being 
lived. — Bishop Edward Bickersteth. 

Twenty minutes later Malcolm knocked at the door 
of his mother’s dressing-room. A deep, sonorous voice 
bade him enter. As he did so Mrs. Herrick laid down 
the book she was reading on the toilet-table, and turned 
to greet him. “ My dearest boy, how glad I am to see 
you!” she exclaimed with a warm, motherly kiss. Then 
she put her hands on his shoulders and regarded him 
with an affectionate smile that quite lighted up her 
homely face. Even in her youth Mrs. Herrick had never 
been handsome. Indeed, her old friends maintained that 
she was far better-looking in her middle age, in spite of 
all her hard work and that burning of the candle at both 
ends which is so abhorrent to the well-regulated mind. 
Her features were strongly marked, and somewhat 
weather-beaten, and the lower part of the face was too 
heavily moulded, but the clear, thoughtful gray eyes had 
a pleasant light in them. Malcolm was secretly very 
proud of his mother. He liked to watch her moving 
among her guests in the dignified, gracious way that was 
habitual to her. 

She is the very personification of an old-fashioned 
English gentlewoman,” he said once to Cedric ; “ but she 
is hardly modern enough in her ideas. She takes things 
too seriously, and that bores people.” 

It must be confessed that to her young acquaintances 
4 49 


50 


HERB OF GRACE 


Mrs. Herrick was rather awe-inspiring. Mere pleasure- 
seekers — drones in the human hive and all such ne'er- 
do-weels — were careful to give her a wide berth. Her 
quiet little speeches sometimes had a sting in them. “ She 
takes the starch out of a fellow, don’t you know,” ob- 
served one of these fashionable loafers, a young officer 
in the Hussars — “ makes him think he’s a worm and 
no man, and that sort of thing; but she doesn’t under- 
stand us Johnnies.” Perhaps Mrs. Herrick would will- 
ingly have recalled her crushing speech when, years after, 
she read the account of Charlie Gordon’s death. '' He 
would have had the Victoria Cross if he had lived,” ex- 
claimed his weeping mother to Mrs. Herrick. “ They 
say he was the bravest and the finest officer that they 
had ever known. You can read the account for yourself. 
All those lives saved by his gallantry.” But here the 
poor woman could say no more. How could any woman 
bear to think of her boy standing at bay in that dreadful 
defile, to gain a few precious moments until help came? 

“ I wish I had not been so hard on' him,” thought 
Mrs. Herrick with a remorseful recollection of the young 
officer’s hurt look. “ What right had I to climb up into 
the judgment seat and rebuke one of these little ones?” 
and for a long time after that she was more gentle in her 
speeches. 

You look well, Malcolm,” continued his mother with 
a satisfied air, “ in spite of the heat and thunder. Anna 
has been complaining of a headache all day; but it was 
impossible for her to rest. However, Dawson tells me 
she is better.” 

“ Oh yes, I thought she looked much as usual. She 
is always rather pale, you know. I need not ask how 
you are, mother — you look as fit as ever.” 

Yes, I am very well, thank God ! I sometimes think 
I have more than my fair share of good health. Mal- 
colm, as you are here, I want to show you what T have 


MRS. HERRICK OBJECTS TO BOHEMIA 51 

chosen for Anna to-morrow,” and she handed him a 
small case. It contained one of those minute toy watches, 
set very prettily with brilliants. 

Malcolm lifted his eyelids in some surprise. “ It is 
a perfect beauty,” he observed ; “ but you must have 
paid a goodish bit for it.” 

'' It was certainly rather extravagant of me,” returned 
Mrs. Herrick apologetically ; “ but you know how girls 
love pretty things. Anna did so long for one of these 
little watches, and you know it is her one-and-twentieth 
birthday. By the bye, Malcolm, what have you two ar- 
ranged for to-morrow?” But when her son briefly 
sketched out Anna’s modest programme, Mrs. Herrick’s 
pleasant face clouded a little. 

“ What a singular choice the child has made !” she 
observed. “ Malcolm, I am not particularly anxious for 
her to be introduced to your Bohemian friends. Oh, I 
don’t mean to say anything against the Kestons,” warned 
by a certain stiffness of manner on Malcolm’s part — “ I 
have never even seen them; but Anna and Mrs. Keston 
move in such different worlds.” 

“ Yes, of course,” he returned rather impatiently; “ but 
a mere introduction need not lead to intimacy. Verity 
is a good little creature, and her Bohemianism will not 
hurt Anna for one afternoon.” 

Mrs. Herrick’s firm lips were pressed together rather 
closely as Malcolm spoke, and her manner became still 
graver. 

“Will you forgive my speaking plainly, Malcolm?” she 
said quietly, “ but I do think it such a grievous mistake 
for you to call Mrs. Keston by her Christian name. You 
know I have mentioned this before.” Then Malcolm red- 
dened ; but though he laughed, he was inwardly annoyed. 

“ I spoke without thinking,” he returned, trying to 
control his impatience, “ but I suppose habit was too 
strong for me. There is really no harm in it, mother. 


52 


HERB OF GRACE 


You know Keston is my most intimate friend — he is 
one of the best fellows in the world — and it stands to 
reason that his wife should be my good friend too.” 

“ Yes, but there are limits, Malcolm.” 

“ Of course there are limits,” rather irritably ; “ but if 
I were to talk for ever I should never make you under- 
stand, mother. In the first place, you have never seen 
Verity — I mean Mrs. Keston. She is the product of a 
modern age. From babyhood she has lived among artists. 
She has imbibed their Bohemianism and learnt to talk 
their jargon. A studio has been her nursery, playroom, 
and schoolroom, and as soon as she grew up she married 
an artist.” 

‘‘ But all this does not prove that she is not to be 
treated with the respect due to a married woman, Mal- 
colm.” 

“ My dear mother, there is no question of respect. 
There is not a man who knows Mrs. Keston who does 
not esteem, and hold her in honour. She is an original 
little person certainly, but a more loyal wife and devoted 
mother never lived. He would be a bold man who ven- 
tured to take a liberty with her, or to overstep the limits 
laid down by her. He would soon feel the measure of 
Goliath’s foot — in plain words, he would find himself 
kicked downstairs by Amias Keston.” 

Mrs. Herrick shrugged her shoulders. The conversa- 
tion bored her, and as usual she found Malcolm a little 
impossible; he seemed so determined to maintain his 
point. 

“ From the first Mrs. Keston wished me to call her by 
her Christian name,” he went on, and Amias wished 
it too. We were on such brotherly terms,” he said, “ that 
Verity — you see habit is too much for me, mother — 
wished me to regard her as a younger sister.” 

“ I thought you looked upon Anna as your sister, Mal- 
colm ;” but Mrs. Herrick’s keen gray eyes had a curious 


MRS. HERRICK OBJECTS TO BOHEMIA 53 

look in them — an acute observer might almost have 
thought that she was hoping that her son would contradict 
this statement. 

“ Oh, Anna,” and then he laughed. “ My dear mother, 
one cannot draw comparisons between them — they are 
utterly dissimilar.” 

“ So I imagine,” was the dry response; and then Mrs. 
Herrick made an effort to recover her wonted placidity. 
“ Malcolm,” she said, putting her hand through his arm, 
“ we must go downstairs now or the Bishop will be 
arriving. I expect Anna is wondering what has become 
of us.” Which proved to be the case. 

Malcolm soon regained his good-humour. His mother 
had rubbed him up the wrong way, as usual, but his good 
sense told him that it was no use resenting her plain- 
spoken remarks. 

She had her own fixed opinions on every subject, and 
nothing could move her out of her groove. She was a 
good woman and a kind-hearted one, but the sense of 
humour was lacking in her. She disliked all that she 
did not understand, and under the comprehensive term 
Bohemianism, she embodied all that was irregular and 
contrary to her creed. 

“ Herrick mere is a Philistine of the purest type,” 
Amias Keston once said to his wife. “ No, I have never 
seen her, but I can draw my own conclusions. Yea- 
Verily, my child, far be the day when that British matron 
crosses our humble threshold.” 

Malcolm had determined not to disappoint his mother 
that evening, so he banished all thoughts of his friends 
from his mind, and a few minutes later he was showing 
people to their seats and chatting pleasantly with his 
acquaintances. 

Now and then, in the midst of her duties as a hostess, 
Mrs. Herrick’s eyes rested on her son’s dark face with 
motherly pride and tenderness. 


54 


HERB OF GRACE 


He was doing his part so well — in his quiet, unobtru- 
sive manner he was making himself so agreeable. Oh, 
if he would only have stayed with her, and been indeed 
the son of her right hand, and given himself to the work ; 
and then for a moment there was a filmy look in the 
mother’s eyes, and she listened a little absently to her 
favourite speaker. 

Malcolm did his part like a man. He applauded the 
speakers at exactly the right moment, and when the meet- 
ing was over he actually made a neat, telling little speech, 
conveying the vote of thanks to the chairman ; and both 
the manner and matter were so good that more than 
one of Mrs. Herrick’s friends observed to her that her 
son would make his mark in the House. 

Malcolm felt rewarded for his exertions when his 
mother wished him good-night. 

“ You have been my right hand this evening, Mal- 
colm,” she said, looking at him with unusual tenderness. 
“ Thank you so much, my son and these few words 
gave Malcolm quite a thrill of pleasure. 

The heavy storm had tempered the extreme heat and 
the night had been comparatively cool, and the little 
group gathered round the breakfast table the next morn- 
ing looked as bright as the day itself. 

Anna had been charmed with her watch ; but when 
she opened Malcolm’s case and saw the tiny diamond- 
studded quiver, she was almost speechless with surprise 
and delight. “ Oh, Malcolm, how could you — ^how could 
you be so kind to me !” was all she could say. But Mal- 
colm only laughed and fastened the brooch in her white 
dress. Then he took some half-open pink rosebuds from 
a vase on the table and bade her wear them. “ You are 
too pale, and these will give you colour,” he said in a 
cool, critical tone. 

Anna took them from his hand rather shyly. She 
had put on her daintiest white frock in his honour, but 


MRS. HERRICK OBJECTS TO BOHEMIA 55 


the rosebuds savoured of vanity to her. She never dis- 
puted Malcolm's opinion on any subject, but as she 
adjusted the flowers she gave Mrs. Herrick a depre- 
cating glance, which the latter met with an indulgent 
smile. 

“ No, dear, you look very nice," she observed, as though 
in reply to this mute question ; " you are not at all too 
smart. Now I must go and read my letters. Have a 
good time, children ; and, Malcolm, remember Anna 
must not be overtired," and then Mrs. Herrick nodded 
cheerfully and withdrew to the library. Anna ran off 
to put on her hat, while Malcolm read his paper. 

They went first to Lincoln's Inn, and Anna stood on 
the wide steps looking at the pigeons fluttering over the 
old buildings, quite unaware, in her innocent excitement 
— though Malcolm was not — that many an admiring 
glance rested on her. 

In spite of her lack of beauty, Anna's pretty girlish 
figure and youthful grace often attracted people — her ex- 
pression was so guileless and sweet, and the fair fluffy 
hair so softly tinted ; and as she stood there in the morn- 
ing sunshine, in her white gown and shady hat, Malcolm 
felt secretly proud of his young companion, and his 
manner became still more affectionate. 

They interviewed Malachi, and to Anna's delight Mal- 
colm put him through his paces. Then they went into 
the inner room, and Anna sat down on the chair Cedric 
had occupied, and looked round her with undisguised 
amazement : the shabbiness and ugliness of the surround- 
ings almost shocked her. 

Oh, Malcolm, it is not a bit nice and comfortable," 
she said with an anxious frown ; fancy your spending 
your days in this dreary room." 

Then Malcolm gave an amused laugh. 

“ Poor little girl, so you are disappointed in my literary 
den. I suppose you thought I should have carved oak 


HERB OF GRACE 


and Russia leather bindings ; but we don’t go in for. 
aesthetic furniture in Lincoln’s Inn.” 

“ But it is so ugly and so dingy, Malcolm.” 

“ Is it ?” he returned, quite surprised at this severe 
criticism. “ I think it quite snug myself. I have done 
some good work here, Anna, so I suppose the ugliness 
and dinginess are somewhat inspiring.” And Malcolm 
glanced at his littered writing-table rather proudly. 

As Anna felt no temptation to linger, they started off 
briskly in search of Todmorden’s Lane. 

They found it with little difficulty. It was a small side 
street, of somewhat unprepossessing appearance, leading 
out of Beauchamp Street. Bennet, boot-maker and um- 
brella-maker, had a dark, dingy little shop just at the 
corner. It had evidently been an ordinary dwelling- 
house in old times, but a bow window had been added 
to transform it into a shop. A flight of broken steps led 
to the basement, where the cobbler and his household 
lived ; but as they carefully descended, Malcolm suddenly 
paused. 

“ What on earth is that noise ?” he asked in a puzzled 
tone. And Anna, drawing her dainty white skirts closely 
round her, stood still to listen. 

It was certainly an extraordinary combination of 
sounds. It seemed at first as though two people were 
singing a duet in different tunes and without any re- 
gard to time; there was persistent melody and yet there 
was utter discord, and it seemed accompanied by the 
clanging of fire-irons. 

Presently Anna began to laugh. Do let us go in and 
see what it means,” she whispered. “ Somebody — a man, 
I think — is singing ‘ Rule Britannia’ and ‘ Hark, hark, 
my soul’ by turns, and there is a woman talking or scold- 
ing at the same time.” 

“ I believe you are right,” was Malcolm’s answer. 
‘‘ Take care of that last step, child, it is quite worn 


MRS. HERRICK OBJECTS TO BOHEMIA 57 


away.” And then, as they stood side by side in the 
dismal little area, he looked vainly for a bell. Finally, 
he rapped so smartly at the door with Anna’s sunshade 
that they distinctly heard an irate voice say, “ Drat their 
imperence,” and a tall, bony-looking woman, in a flowered 
gingham dress and a very red face, bounced out on them. 

She was so tall and so excessively bony, and so alto- 
gether aggressive-looking, that Anna felt inclined to 
hide herself behind Malcolm. Indeed, he remarked after- 
wards himself, that he had never seen a finer specimen 
of a muscular Christian, barring the Christianity, in his 
life. 

“ What’s your pleasure ?” observed the Amazon, fold- 
ing her arms in a defiant manner, while through the 
open door they could now hear distinctly the cobbler’s 
subdued and singularly toneless voice meandering on 
— “ O’er earth’s green fields, and ocean’s wave-beat 
shore.” 

“ Deuce take the man !” continued the woman wrath- 
fully. “ Will you hold your old doddering tongue, Caleb, 
and let the gentlefolk speak!” But there was no cessa- 
tion of the dreary, dirge-like sounds. They found out 
afterwards that Caleb always worked with cotton-wool 
in his ears, so his wife’s remonstrance failed to reach 
him. 

“ You see, it is like this, sir,” he observed to Malcolm 
afterwards, when they became better acquainted with 
each other : “ Ma’am’s tongue is like a leaking water- 
butt. It is bound to drip, drip from week’s end to week’s 
end, and there’s no stopping it. It is a way she has, and 
Kit and me are bound to put up with it. She means no 
harm, doesn’t Kezia; she is a hard-working crittur, and 
does her duty, though she is a bit noisy over it; she is 
good to us both in her way, and I am not quarrelsome 
by nature, so, as I like to work in peace, I just stop my 
ears and hum to myself, and if she scolds I mind it no 


58 


HERB OF GRACE 


more than I do the buzzing of the blue-bottles on the 
glass.” 

“But the child Kit?” questioned Malcolm a little 
anxiously. Then a queer little twisted smile came to 
Caleb’s face. 

“ She is used to it, is Kit, and she don’t take it to 
heart much. I have heard her cheek Ma’am sometimes. 
Ma’am wouldn’t hurt a hair of her head, for all her 
bouncings and flinging of pots and kettles when she is 
in a temper. It is the basement tries her, poor soul. 
She says she has never been used to it. Her first hus- 
band was in the tin trade, and they had a tidy little shop 
in the Borough.” 

“ Oh, Mrs. Martin has been married before,” observed 
Malcolm. He was rather surprised at this piece of in- 
telligence. 

“ Lord love you, yes, sir ; and when she became Josh 
Leggett’s widow she just took up with me because she 
said she felt lonesome. She did it with her eyes open 
as I often tell her, but she has never got over the base- 
ment. It does not agree with her constitution, and it 
never will.” 

“ I suppose Kit is Mrs. Martin’s child ?” asked Mal- 
colm, as he digested this information. 

Then Caleb gave a dry little laugh. 

“ Bless you, no, sir. Kezia never had any family. 
That was always a sore point with her. She said that 
was why she was so lonesome, and I believe she married 
me mostly on Kit’s account. Oh, she has a good heart, 
has Ma’am,” continued Caleb in his slow, ruminative 
way, “ though she would talk a dozen men stupid, one 
after another, and be as fresh as paint herself.” And 
with this graphic description of the second Mrs. Martin, 
Caleb touched his old hat and slouched away. 


CHAPTER VI 


YEA-VERILY AND BABS 

We will have a swashing and a martial outside . — As You 
Like It. 

The direct influence of good women is the greatest of all forces 
under Divine Grace for making good men. — Knox Little. 

Never had that much-loved hymn “ The Pilgrims of 
the Night” sounded so flatly and discordantly in Anna’s 
ears as when she listened to Caleb’s monotonous croak; 
but her sense of irritation changed to alarm when Mrs. 
Martin suddenly shook her fist at the open door and van- 
ished. Malcolm, who promptly followed her, was just in 
time to see her shaking the cobbler by his coat-collar, 
much after the fashion of a terrier shaking a rat. 

“ Are you a born natural ?” she screamed. “ Pilgrims 
of the night, indeed ! I’ll pilgrim you, you chuckle-headed 
idiot. Here are your betters trying to make themselves 
heard.” Then Caleb slowly unstopped his ears, and rose 
rather stiffly to his feet. 

“ You have got no call to be so violent, Kezia,” he 
returned meekly. “ Oh, it is the gentleman who lent us 
the umbrella. Kit and I were going to bring it back this 
afternoon, sir, but I had to finish a job I had in hand.” 

'' There is no hurry,” returned Malcolm. We were 
in this direction, so I thought I would save you the 
trouble.” Malcolm looked curiously round the room as 
he spoke. 

He was not surprised when he learnt afterwards that 
the second Mrs. Martin objected to the basement. It was 
certainly a gloomy little place, though scrupulously clean 
and neat. The sunshine of a July day filtered reluctantly 

59 


6o 


HERB OF GRACE 


through the small, opaque-looking window. Caleb’s 
bench and tools were placed just underneath it, and above 
his head a linnet hopped and twittered in a green cage. 
Kit’s perambulator occupied one corner, while Kit her- 
self, seated at the table in a high chair, was busily en- 
gaged in ironing out some ragged doll-garments with 
a tiny bent flat-iron. Anna regarded her pitifully — the 
small shrunken figure and sunken chest, and the thin 
white face with its halo of red curls. But Kit was almost 
too absorbed with her endeavour to get the creases out 
of a doll’s petticoat to heed her scrutiny. She only paused 
to nod at Malcolm in a friendly way. 

“ I wasn’t wet one little bit, though Ma’am scolded dad 
so,” she exclaimed in her high shrill voice. “ I was like 
a queen in a big tent, wasn’t I, dad? I was awful com- 
fortable.” 

“ She might have been drowned dead for all the care 
he took,” returned Mrs. Martin with a contemptuous sniflp, 
as she planted her arms akimbo in her favourite attitude. 
Her elbows were so sharp and bony that Anna thought 
of the Red Queen in Alice in Wonderland. “ If it weren’t 
for me that blessed lamb would be a corpse every day of 
her life — though I beg and pray him on my bended knees 
not to run her into danger.” 

She was only a coarse-tongued virago, but even Anna, 
who had shrunk from her, felt a little mollified and 
touched as she saw how tenderly the rough hand rested 
on the child’s curls. But Kit pushed it pettishly away. 

Don’t, Ma’am, you’ve been and gone and spoiled 
Jemima’s ball dress, and she is going to wear it to-night,” 
and Kit held up a modicum of blue gauze which certainly 
did not bear the slightest resemblance to a garment, and 
regarded it anxiously. Jemima herself, a mere battered 
hulk of a doll, lay in a grimy chemise staring with lack- 
lustre eyes at the ceiling. 

“ I suppose Kit is not able to walk ?” asked Anna, look- 


YEA-VERILY AND BABS 


6r 


ing rather timidly at the formidable Mrs. Martin; but 
to her surprise the rugged, forbidding features softened 
and grew womanly in a moment. 

'' Law bless you, miss, the poor lamb has never stood 
on her feet in her life, and never will as long as she 
lives. The doctors at the hospital yonder say that when 
she gets older and stronger she will be able to use 
crutches ; but she is as weakly as a baby now, for all she 
has turned eight.’' 

Kit’s a slight stronger than she was last year,” inter- 
posed Caleb, laying down the boots he was cobbling ; but 
Ma’am was down on him in a moment. 

“ You may as well shut your mouth, Caleb, if you have 
got nothing better to say than that, and if you have not 
eyes to see the dear lamb is dwindling more and more 
every day in this cellar of a place. ' Plenty of fresh air 
and light,’ says the doctor, ‘ and as much nourishment as 
you can get her to swallow,’ and all the winter we have 
to burn gas or sit in darkness through the livelong day, 
and the fog choking the breath out of one.” 

“ It is our misfortune, sir, as Kezia knows,” began 
Caleb feebly; but his pale blue eyes grew watery as he 
spoke ; it is not much of an ’ome when one has seen 
better days, but to my thinking Solomon was in the right 
when he talked of that dinner of herbs. If Kezia had a 
contented mind we should maybe all of us get on better.” 

‘‘ A contented fiddlestick !” exclaimed Mrs. Martin, so 
angrily that Malcolm thought it wise to make a diversion, 
especially as a warm fishy odour in the adjoining kitchen 
heralded the near arrival of the noontide repast. When 
he saw more of the Martins he invariably noticed the 
smell of fish; it seemed to be their principal diet — fish 
broiled or fried or boiled, or even at tea-time shrimps or 
periwinkles. He saw that Anna found the atmosphere 
oppressive, and determined to beat a hasty retreat. 

“ Well, we must be going,” he observed. '' Good-day, 


62 


HERB OF GRACE 


Kit. Now I wonder, if I were to give you a doll, what 
sort you would like?*’ Then Kit, who had been frowning 
fiercely over the ball dress, looked up at him with aston- 
ished blue eyes. 

“ A real new dollie for me,” she said breathlessly. 

Oh my, Ma’am, do you hear that ? Oh please may I 
have a baby that shuts its eyes, and that I can love?” 

“ Oh yes, I think we can manage that very well. Kit. 
You may look for your new baby in a few days.” And 
then Anna kissed the sharp little face, and Mrs. Martin 
smiled at her quite affably. 

“ She’ll talk of nothing else from morning to night. 
Thank you kindly, sir — and you too, young lady.” 

Who is she ?” whispered Kit, so loudly that both Mal- 
colm and Anna overheard her. “ Who is that nice lady, 
dad, in the white dress ? Is she the gentleman’s wife ?” 

Malcolm laughed in amused fashion as he assisted Anna 
up the crazy steps, but for once the girl did not respond. 

It was so hot in that room,” she said rather impatiently, 
putting up her hands to her burning cheeks. “ Oh, Mal- 
colm, what a dreadful woman and what a miserable 
place !” 

Oh I don’t know,” he returned. “ Mrs. Martin’s 
bark’s worse than her bite, and one can see she is fond 
of the child. We may as well buy that doll, Anna, and 
then we will have some luncheon. There is a place I 
know where they do cutlets remarkably well, and their 
ices are capital,” and then they set out in search of a toy- 
shop. 

The shop where Malcolm proposed they should eat 
their luncheon had an upper window overhanging Pic- 
cadilly. Here they secured a small table to themselves. 

At first Anna seemed a little thoughtful and abstracted. 
Kit’s innocent suggestion had startled her out of her 
maidenly unconsciousness. It was such a strange thing 
to say. It was so terrible that people could think such 


YEA-VERILY AND BARS 


63 

things, and that Malcolm should only laugh as though he 
were amused. Somehow that laugh seemed to hurt her 
more than anything. 

Malcolm was quite aware of the girl’s discomposure ; 
his gentlemanly instincts were never at fault. He knew 
that many of his mother’s friends often hinted that his 
position with regard to her adopted daughter must be 
somewhat difficult. At such times he was given to affirm 
that no tie of blood could be stronger. “ She is my sister 
in everything but name,” he would say. 

His influence over her was so great that he charmed 
her out of her quiet mood, and they were soon laughing 
and chatting in their old way. 

They got into a hansome presently and drove to Cheyne 
Walk. As they passed Cheyne Row, and looked up at the 
grim old figure of the Sage of Chelsea, looking so gray 
and weather-beaten, Malcolm proposed that they should 
make a pilgrimage to No. 5, but Anna refused. 

“We have been there three times,” she objected, “ and 
I do so dislike that dismal, dreary old house. I don’t 
wonder that bright, clever Mrs. Carlyle was moped to 
death there.” 

“ Hush, you little heretic,” returned Malcolm good- 
humouredly. “ To me No. 5 Cheyne Row is a shrine of 
suffering, struggling genius. When I stand in that bare, 
sound-proof room and think of the work done there by 
that tormented, dyspeptic man with such infinite labour, 
with sweat of brow and anguish of heart, I feel as though 
I must bare my head even to his majestic memory.” 

Malcolm had mounted his favourite hobby-horse, but 
Anna listened to him rebelliously. They had been over 
this ground before, and she had always taken Mrs. Car- 
lyle’s part. “ Think of a handsome, brilliant little creat- 
ure like Jane Welsh,” she would say indignantly, 
“ thrown away on a learned, heavy peasant, as rugged 
and ungainly as that ‘ Hill of the Hawk,’ that Craigen- 


64 


HERB OF GRACE 


puttoch, where he buried her alive. Oh, no wonder she 
became a neurotic invalid, shut up from week’s end to 
week’s end with a dyspeptic, irritable scholar in an old 
dressing-gown.” Indeed, it must be owned, in spite of all 
Malcolm’s eloquence, Anna was singularly perverse on 
this subject, and absolutely refused to burn incense to 
his hero. 

As Anna must have her way on her birthday, Mal- 
colm said no more, and the next moment they arrived at 
their destination — a gray, dingy-looking old house, some- 
what high and narrow, overlooking the river. 

The first floor windows opened on a balcony, which 
had an awning over it. Two or three deck-chairs had 
been placed there, and on summer evenings Malcolm 
loved to sit there, either alone or with a congenial spirit, 
enjoying the refreshing breezes from the river. 

The house belonged to his friend Amias Keston, and 
some years before he had built himself a studio in the 
back garden. As his income was remarkably small, and 
his work at that time far from remunerative, he was 
obliged to let the upper floor. The situation charmed 
Malcolm, and the society of his old friend was a strong 
inducement, so they soon came to terms. Malcolm was 
an ideal lodger ; he gave little trouble, beyond having his 
bath filled and his boots well polished. He breakfasted 
in his own apartment, but he always dined with the Kes- 
tons. A solitary chop eaten in solitude was not to his 
taste, and he much preferred sharing his friends’ homely 
meals. Plain living and high thinking suit me down to 
the ground,” he would say — “ a laugh helps digestion 
but in spite of his philosophic theories, many secret dain- 
ties found their v/ay into the Keston larder, and were 
regarded doubtfully and with awe by an anxious young 
housekeeper. 

Anna felt a little quickening of excitement as they 
walked up the flagged path — she could not look indif- 


YEA- VERILY AND BARS 


65 


ferently at the house where Malcolm lived. It seemed 
an age to both of them before the door was opened. Mal- 
colm had knocked twice, and was meditating a third 
assault, when they heard footsteps, and the next moment 
a little brown girl appeared on the threshold with a child 
in her arms. 

“ I am so sorry, Mr. Herrick, but Hepsy has just gone 
for the milk,” she whispered to Malcolm, who did not 
seem a bit surprised by the intelligence. 

He had grown used to these domestic episodes. The 
milkman was generally late, and Hepsy, otherwise Heph- 
zibah, was for ever on his track with a yellow jug in her 
hand ; they called it the “ Hunting of the Snark,” for 
they were wont to treat the minor accidents of life in a 
playful fashion. 

“ Anna, this is Mrs. Keston,” observed Malcolm — “ my 
friend Verity, and Babs.” Then Anna, in some confusion 
and much astonishment, shook hands with this very 
singular young person. 

Verity! could this be the Verity that Malcolm had 
eulogised with such enthusiasm — this little brown girl 
who was regarding her so gravely and fixedly? 

Anna was obliged to own afterwards that her appear- 
ance had given her a shock. She was so small and sallow 
and insignificant, and her short curly hair was parted on 
one side like a boy, and cropped quite closely behind. The 
baby was small and brown too, a tiny edition of herself, 
and they both had dark eyes that looked preternaturally 
solemn; Babs, indeed, wore an injured expression, and a 
puckered look of anguish spoke of the pangs of hunger 
and the delinquencies of milkmen. 

Babs wants her tea,” observed Verity cheerfully ; ‘‘ I 
am going to give her a crust to amuse her. Will you 
bring Miss Sheldon into the studio, Mr. Herrick? Amias 
will be so pleased to see her, though he is yery busy. I 
know your name,” she continued smilingly to Anna — she 

5 


66 


HERB OF GRACE 


had a fresh clear voice that sounded pleasantly on Anna’s 
ear ; “ I have heard so much about you, that of course I 
recognised you directly, though Mr. Herrick did not in- 
troduce you properly.” 

Verity spoke with so much ease and frankness that 
Anna began to feel interested in her; she seemed so 
utterly oblivious of her shabby cotton dress and ridicu- 
lous bib-apron. Babs presented a far more imposing ap- 
pearance in a white frock and pink ribbons, underneath 
which the bare little brown feet were peeping. Anna 
would willingly have made friends with her, but Verity 
advised her to wait. ‘‘ Babs will not be sociable until she 
has had her tea,” she remarked ; we had better take no 
notice of her for the present,” and indeed that much- 
enduring and long-suEering infant was at that moment so 
reduced by famine as to attempt swallowing her own 
dimpled fist. 

“ What a capital boy she would make !” thought Anna 
as she followed Mrs. Keston into the dining-room ; for 
the dark, closely-cropped head and a certain boyish free- 
dom of step and bearing gave her this idea. 

The dining-room was rather a gloomy apartment; the 
front windows were high and narrow, and the overhang- 
ing balcony rather obscured the light ; the folding-doors 
had been taken away, but though this added to the size of 
the room, there was no additional cheerfulness gained, as 
the glass door in the inner room, which once had opened 
into a pleasant garden, now merely led into a covered way 
to the studio. 

This sombre apartment was furnished in a curious 
manner, which made people open their eyes with astonish- 
ment until they found out that Amias Keston had ac- 
quired his household goods at second-hand sales. 

The table of good Spanish mahogany had been a bar- 
gain, but it hardly harmonised with a Sheraton cabinet 
and a light oak sideboard, though both were good of their 


YEA-VERILY AND BARS 


67 


kind. Then the chairs had been picked up singly, and 
were of all sizes and patterns. Amias always sat in a 
grandfather chair of carved dark oak at the bottom of the 
table, and Verity in a high-backed chair in light oak and 
red morocco, while others were rosewood, mahogany, or 
Sheraton. Nothing matched, nothing harmonized; it 
was merely a curiosity shop in which they stored their 
purchases. So there were plush curtains and Japanese 
screens, a bronze Mazeppa, and an alabaster boy and 
butterfly, while blue dragon china and some lovely 
bits of Chelsea were in a corner cupboard. Anna, 
who knew there was no other living room, looked 
vainly round for some feminine occupation, and Verily, 
who was as sharp as a needle, seemed to guess her 
thought. 

“ Oh, I never sit here,” she said confidentially, “ it is 
too dark; Babs and I prefer the studio,” and Anna did 
not wonder at the preference. The studio was a delight- 
ful room, high and well-proportioned, and with plenty of 
light. The part used by Amias Keston as his workshop 
was quite bare with the exception of the sitter’s throne 
and an easel or two ; this could at any time be curtained 
off to secure privacy. 

The rest of the studio was fitted up as a sitting-room, 
with rugs, easy-chairs, and a couch, and a table with work 
and writing-materials. Here, in a retired nook behind an 
old screen, stood “ Babs’s” bassinette, where she took her 
mid-day naps. 

“ This is Verity’s and Bab’s playroom,” explained Mal- 
colm with a patronising air ; “ here the Martha of the 
establishment takes her well-earned rest.” Then Verity 
flashed a sudden look at him which expressed unmiti- 
gated indignation. 

“ Hit one of your own size, Malcolm, my boy,” ob- 
served a voice genially from the distance; and then, as 
Verity drew back a curtain, Anna saw a big, burly-look- 


68 


HERB OF GRACE 


ing man, with shaggy hair and a fair moustache, painting 
at an easel. 

He was so big, so colossal in fact, that he seemed to 
shake the floor as he walked ; everything was big about 
him, his hands and feet, his voice and his laugh, and when 
he whispered his words were audible at the other end of 
the room. This giant among men wore an old brown 
velvet coat, very frayed about the elbows, and though he 
was by no means handsome, there was such a pleasant, 
kindly expression on his face that Anna felt drawn to 
him at once. 

“ How do you do. Miss Sheldon ?” he said, as Malcolm 
introduced them ; my wife and I have long wished to 
make your acquaintance,” and here his big hand seemed 
to swallow Anna’s up. 

“ Go on with your painting, Goliath,” interrupted Mal- 
colm. “ He is working against time, Anna, and every 
daylight hour is of consequence to him ; it was Verity 
who drew that curtain that he might not be disturbed;” 
and then Amias Keston stretched his huge arms and gave 
himself a shake. 

“ The Philistines are upon thee, Samson! Yea-Verily, 
my child, if the Snark is back, you had better tell her to 
bring us some tea.” But here Malcolm again interposed. 
Goliath was far too busy, they would have tea upstairs, 
and then sit on the balcony afterwards ; and Verity un- 
derstood him at once. “ Hepsy is back,” she said com- 
posedly ; '' please take Miss Sheldon upstairs, and then 
Amias will go on with his work, and I will send up tea 
as soon as possible ;” but before they were out of the 
studio Goliath was back at his easel and painting away 
for dear life. 


CHAPTER VII 


MORE ANCIENT HISTORY WITH VERITY 

Heart, are you great enough 
For a love that never tires? 

Oh heart, are you great enough for love? 

I have heard of thorns and briers ? 

Tennyson. 

As the studio door closed behind them, Anna said re- 
gretfully, “ I wish we could have stayed longer, Mal- 
colm, I wanted to see more of that nice Mr. Keston; 
and I did so long to peep at his picture.” 

Did you ?” observed Malcolm in a surprised tone, but 
he was evidently gratified at this expression of interest. 

Well, we will go back there presently, when he has 
finished that bit of drapery that is bothering him. Go- 
liath is as nervous as a cat when he is working against 
time. He and Verity have arranged a regular code of 
signals,” he went on : “ when the curtain is drawn right 
across the arch, it means no admittance except on busi- 
ness, and all loafers and trespassers will be prosecuted. 
On these occasions Verity is a perfect dragon, and he 
would be an audacious man who would try to force his 
way in.” 

Anna nodded as though this explanation satisfied her, 
and then she followed Malcolm up the steep, narrow 
staircase into a pleasant, well-furnished room, with two 
windows opening on to the balcony. 

Everything was in good taste and thoroughly well 
chosen. The dark oak bureau and writing-table, the 

69 


70 


HERB OF GRACE 


book-shelves filled with well-bound volumes, the proof 
engravings on the walls, and a handsome bronze group 
on the mantelpiece ; while the deep easy-chairs and 
couch gave it an air of comfort. 

Anna had been there before, but she always reiterated 
her first remark on seeing it, “ that it was the most com- 
fortable room she had ever entered. You have such 
good taste, Malcolm,” she would say ; “ even your paper- 
weight and the coal-scuttle are artistic.” 

“ I am a lover of the picturesque,” he would return 
solemnly, and anything ugly or unsuitable would jar 
on me. I like subdued tints and mellow rich tones ; that 
is why I bind my books in buff-coloured Russian calf. 
They harmonise so splendidly with the dark oak and 
the faded russet and brown and blue of the rug. Take 
my advice, Anna, cultivate your eye, and you will add 
much to the pleasures of life.” 

When Anna had inspected the latest engraving and 
tested the Chesterfield couch — a recent purchase — they 
went out on the balcony until tea was ready. A red- 
haired, buxom-looking maid brought it in. 

It was evident that the mistress of the establishment 
was not without resources, for quite a pretty, tempting 
little meal was spread on the oval table. There was 
sponge-cake and shortbread, a dish of fruit, and delicious 
bread-and-butter. The beautiful teacups were Malcolm’s 
own property, and had been picked up by him at a fabu- 
lous price in Wardour Street, and the little melon-shaped 
teapot had been a present from his mother. Verity 
always washed up these teacups herself. She said it 
was just for the pleasure of handling such lovely things, 
but in reality she knew Hepsy’s clumsy fingers were not 
to be trusted. 

Anna had only taken her place at the tea-tray, and was 
manipulating the curiously-shaped sugar-tongs rather 
carefully, when Malcolm looked at her a little search- 


ANCIENT HISTORY WITH VERITY 71 

ingly. “ Hurry up,” he said severely ; ” how long do 
you suppose I am going to wait for your opinion of the 
Keston family?” 

Then Anna, who had been vaguely alarmed by his 
judicial tone, filled up the teacups with a reassured air 
and in a leisurely manner. “ You can hardly expect me 
to judge of any human being in five minutes,” she an- 
swered with some show of reason. 

“ That sounds very plausible, my dear, but I can read 
you like print,” and here Malcolm looked at her squarely. 
“ You may as well confess, Anna, you are far more 
struck with Goliath than with poor little Verity.” 

Anna looked rather guilty; as usual, Malcolm’s pene- 
tration had not deceived him. She had been most favour- 
ably impressed with the good-humoured giant, with his 
honest face and kindly blue eyes ; but Verity, a brown 
slip of a girl with big solemn eyes, how was she to per- 
jure herself by pretending that she was attracted by 
such a unique little piece of eccentricity. 

“ I wish she did not look so like a toy,” she observed 
in a deprecating voice. But Malcolm took this remark 
in good part. 

“ Oh, you mean her hair,” he replied coolly. Oh, 
poor girl, that is the result of brain fever. She had the 
most wonderful hair you ever saw. When she let it 
down it quite swept the floor, and though it was so dark 
it had such splendid shades in it. Have you ever seen 
Keston’s ‘ Leah and Rachel at the Well’ ?” Then, as 
Anna shook her head, “ Well, Verity was his model for 
Leah. Leah is filling her pitcher and looking down into 
the well, so the eyes are hidden, but it is Verity’s small 
brown face to the life. I always say that was his best 
picture. His Rachel was marvellous, but I liked Leah 
best; she was more human somehow, and those dark 
plaits of hair escaping from her turban were so beautiful. 
Poor little Leah! a month later they robbed her of her 


72 


HERB OF GRACE 


chief beauty by cutting off her hair. Old Goliath nearly 
sobbed as he told me.” 

Anna’s face was full of sympathy. Mr. Keston must 
be very fond of her,” she returned in such a surprised 
and dubious tone that Malcolm laughed outright. 

“ You are not very flattering to poor little Verity,” 
he observed, “ but I can assure you that Goliath worships 
the ground she walks on. They are the happiest couple 
in the world. Amias is a good fellow and a fine artist, 
who will make his mark some day when he has got rid 
of his cranks, but he has not an ounce of his wife’s 
brains; she is the cleverest and brightest little woman 
I ever met, and she has a heart big enough to hold the 
whole world.” 

Anna pondered over this splendid eulogium with 
some surprise; then she said quickly — 

“ You must allow me a little time before I can fairly 
judge of your friends, Malcolm. I know so little about 
Mrs. Keston. I remember you once promised to tell 
me about her early life, but somehow there has been no 
opportunity.” 

“ Let us go out on the balcony and have our talk 
there, while I enjoy a cigarette,” was Malcolm’s answer 
to this. “We must not go back to the studio for another 
hour;” and then Anna took possession of one deck- 
chair while Malcolm occupied the other. 

There was a short silence while Malcolm lighted his 
cigarette. Anna looked down on the broad gray river 
and a passing steamer with eyes shining with happiness. 
To her the hour was simply perfect. Malcolm was be- 
side her, and in his kindest and most brotherly mood. 
What did it matter on what subject they talked? Verity 
or Cedric or Lincoln’s Inn — anything that interested him 
would interest her. When Malcolm held forth on his 
favourite theories, Anna would listen with unflagging 
attention, and never once hint at her lack of comprehen- 


ANCIENT HISTORY WITH VERITY 73 

sion, although the effort to understand him had made 
her head ache. The very sound of his voice was music 
in her ears, and this unconscious flattery was very sooth- 
ing to his masculine intellect. 

Malcolm, who had masterful ways of his own, was 
bent on convincing Anna that she was wrong in her 
estimate of Verity Keston, and he was very willing at 
this moment to tell her all he knew of her. 

I have heard all about things from Goliath,” he began, 
'' and Verity often talks about her old life to me. Neither 
of them make any secret about it. She was only seven or 
eight when he first saw her ; she had just lost her mother. 
Her father’s name was Westbrook; he was a scene- 
painter, a thriftless ne’er-do-weel, whose intemperate 
habits had brought them to poverty and broken his wife’s 
heart; but in his sober moments he was good to the 
child, and she certainly seemed devoted to him.” 

“ Oh dear, how sad it sounds, Malcolm !” 

“ My dear, it was far sadder in reality. Think of that 
lonely little creature, with no one to guide and befriend 
her except the woman of the house. 

“ In her rough way Mrs. Parker kept watch over the 
child, but she had children of her own and a sick hus- 
band, and had to drudge and slave for her family and 
lodgers from morning until night. Oh, I must tell you 
her answer to a well-meaning district visitor one day, 
Anna. The lady had just said very sweetly, ‘ It is so 
good for us to count our blessings, Mrs. Parker ; we are 
so apt to forget our thanksgivings.’ 

' Humph,’ returned Mrs. Parker, ‘ I don’t reckon that 
I shall take long in counting mine — unless backaches and 
singing in your ears are amongst them. But then we 
have got something to look forward to in t’other world 
— there’ll be no wash-tubs and no district visitors there, 
with their texts and high-falutin’ nonsense.’ ” 


74 


HERB OF GRACE 


Anna laughed merrily. In her quiet way she had a 
strong sense of humour. 

I think I like Mrs. Parker, Malcolm.” 

“ Verity liked her too; she always says that she owes 
a great deal to her motherly care. ‘ I got a few cuffs 
sometimes,’ she once said to me, ‘ but I daresay I de- 
served them, and, poor woman, she had troubles of her 
own to bear. But on cold nights I can’t forget how she 
would come upstairs to tuck me up, and see if I were 
warm enough; and once, when I could not sleep for 
shivering, she brought me up some hot drink, and covered 
me up in an old shawl of her own ;’ and as long as Mrs. 
Parker lived Verity never forgot her.’ 

“ I am beginning to feel interested in her, Malcolm.” 

“ My dear child, if you could only hear Goliath talk 
on this subject your heart would ache for many a day. 
Think of that poor child growing up to womanhood in 
such surroundings; spending her days in a dirty, bare 
studio, with only rough, dissipated men for her com- 
panions — though to do them justice they treated her with 
respect and kindness. Somehow she picked up a desul- 
tory education among them. One broken-down old 
scene-painter taught her to read and write, and another, 
a French artist, taught her the rudiments of French, and 
also to play on the violin. ‘ They all treated me as a 
plaything,’ she once said to me, ' and poor as they were, 
they would bring me toys and sweets. I think, nay, I am 
sure, that they were careful of their talk before me, but 
it was a strange life for a child. Very often I could not 
see their faces for the cloud of tobacco smoke, and some- 
times the atmosphere was so stifling that I preferred to 
sit outside on the cold dark landing.’ ” 

“ Poor mite, what a life !” 

Amias told me once that he should never forget the 
first time he saw her. He was a mere lad himself of 
sixteen or seventeen, and a student in a life academy. 


ANCIENT HISTORY WITH VERITY 75 


“ Some errand had brought him to Westbrook’s lodg- 
ings. It was a dull, cold January afternoon, and though 
it was only three o’clock, he said the light was so dim 
that he nearly stumbled over the child. She was sitting 
huddled up in the doorway of the studio, with an old 
red shawl over her head to protect her against the 
draughts, and a tiny black kitten was mewing piteously 
in her arms. 

“ ‘ Kitty’s crying for her mother pussy,’ she said, look- 
ing at him without the least shyness, ‘ but I want her 
to keep me company out here. It is not kind of her to 
cry.’ 

“ ' But it is too cold for you and Kitty too,’ observed 
Amias ; ‘ you had better come in with me.’ But the 
child shook her head. 

“ ‘ No, I durst not,’ she whispered ; ‘ daddy’s drunk, 
and he is flinging things about so hard that Kitty and me 
might get hurt; so I am making believe we are the 
Prince and Princess in the enchanted forest. Will you 
stop and play with me?’ and actually Amias — he was 
always a good fellow — squatted on the ground beside 
her and entered into the game. From that day they were 
the best of friends, and he was Verity’s favourite play- 
mate. On Sunday afternoons he took her out to feed 
the ducks in St. James’s Park, or to watch the boys sail 
their boats on the pond in Kensington Gardens. He was 
only a poor art student, but he would forego a meal 
cheerfully to provide some little treat for his protegee. 
As the days grew darker with trouble, and Westbrook 
grew more hopeless and degraded in his habits, the neg- 
lected child turned to Amias for help and sympathy. 
There were terrible scenes towards the last, but I will 
spare you the fearful details ; it was a miracle how any 
girl of fifteen could endure what Verity had to bear. For 
some months Westbrook’s friends were fully aware that 
he was hardly accountable for his actions, and there was 


76 


HERB OF GRACE 


an attempt made to shut him up in an asylum. It was cer- 
tain that the man was insane, and that his daughter was 
not safe from his violence. Amias concurred in this opin- 
ion, and the necessary steps were taken. Unfortunately, 
either the thing was bungled or Westbrook was too 
cunning for them, but before they could secure him 
he had hidden himself in Verity’s room, and when the 
poor child entered he thought she was his keeper and 
felled her brutally to the ground. They were only just 
in time to save her. Don’t look so pale, Anna, I am 
not going to harrow up your feelings. It is not a nice 
story. Westbrook was raving in a strait waistcoat be- 
fore night, but he did not live many months afterwards 
and then Malcolm related the rest of the story. 

It was after that terrible experience that Verity had 
brain fever and lost her beautiful hair. She had only 
just left the hospital when the news of her father’s death 
reached her. It was Amias who told her. 

The good fellow had visited her constantly, and as soon 
as she was strong enough to be moved, he took lodgings 
for her in a farmhouse in Kent where he had often 
stayed. The woman of the house was a simple, kindly 
creature who had grown-up daughters of her own, and 
Amias knew he could safely trust Verity to her care. 

No environment could have been better for the girl: 
the beautiful air, the fresh country sights and sounds, 
soothed and strengthened her worn nerves. When Verity 
woke in the morning, instead of the rumbling of carts 
and waggons, she heard the fluting of blackbirds and 
thrushes in the orchard below, and the lowing of cows 
for their pastures. Everything was new and fresh to 
her; every flower in the hedgerow, every bird singing 
in the copse, was a miracle and revelation ; the old miser- 
able life had slipped away from her like a disused and 
faded garment, and her soul seemed new-born and steeped 
in beauty. “ Oh, the peace and the loveliness of it all !” 


ANCIENT HISTORY WITH VERITY 77 


she would say to Amias when he came down for his 
Sunday visit. “ Am I really Verity — ^Verity Westbrook, 
who used to live in that dreadful Montagu Street?” And 
then she would look wistfully at him — for she had grown 
strangely timid and self-distrustful. But he would only 
laugh at her in his kindly way. “ Yea- Verily, my child, it 
is certainly you yourself,” he would answer ; “ when Na- 
ture made you she broke her mould, there could not be two 
editions of Verity.” Sometimes, when she was low and 
weak, and memories of the past horrors were too vivid, 
and even his big laugh and little jokes failed to drive 
them away, she would cling to his arm and entreat him 
not to send her back. “ If I see that place again I shall 
die,” she once said, and the look in her eyes, and the way 
her small hand went to her throat, as though the very 
thought impeded her breathing, told him that she spoke 
the truth. 

What was he to do with her? That was the question 
that occupied him for many a day. The summer had 
passed, and autumn was well advanced before he found 
the right answer. 

One October afternoon he had taken her out for a walk 
as usual, and they had sat down to rest on a bench under 
a wide-spreading chestnut tree overlooking a village 
green. An aged donkey and some geese were feeding 
near them, but there was no one in sight. The old 
gammers and gaffers of the village were sitting by their 
firesides, for, in spite of the’ sunshine, the air was cold, 
and more than once Verity shivered as she sat. 

'' This wind is too cold for you, my child,” he said 
presently ; “ let us walk on.” But she shook her head. 

“ No, please let us stay a little longer. I do so love this 
village. If I were an artist I would paint it. Amias,” 
interrupting herself, there is something I want to say 
to you. I have been at dear Colbrook seven months — 
seven happy, beautiful months — ^but I am well now, and 


78 


HERB OF GRACE 


quite strong, and it is time for me to work and get my 
own living/’ 

Verity spoke with great determination, but he noticed 
that her lips were white and drawn, and that there was 
a strained look in her eyes, and a sort of pitiful feeling 
came over him, such as a mother would feel for a sulfer- 
ing child. In spite of her brave words, he knew how 
she dreaded to face the world, though her womanly pride 
and spirit would prevent her from telling him so. More 
than once she had hinted to him that she felt herself a 
burden on his generosity; but at the first word he had 
checked her. 

‘‘ How old are you, dear?” he asked by way of answer 
to her remark. The question seemed to surprise her. 

“ Oh, Amias, don’t you remember I was seventeen on 
the first of May, and Mrs. Craven gave us a syllabub 
in honour of the occasion?” and Verity’s dark eyes were 
a little reproachful. It seemed so strange to her that he 
could have forgotten that day. But Amias only tugged 
at his moustache and pondered deeply. 

I have it,” he said briskly. “ Verity, you shall be 
married on your eighteenth birthday, and you shall marry 
me.” Then, as the girl shrank from him, and her thin 
face was covered with a burning blush at these unex- 
pected words, his manner changed and grew very gentle. 
“ Darling, you need not be afraid of me. Every hair of 
your head is sacred to me, for I love you dearly. I will 
take such care of you, my little Verity. You will be my 
child as well as my wife. You can trust your old friend 
Amias, can you not ?” and though such an idea had never 
entered her head. Verity’s confidence in him was so great 
that she actually put her hand in his and promised to 
marry him. 

Never for one moment did she repent her resolution, 
and before the wedding day arrived she had learned to 
love him dearly. Amias had not long lost his mother. 


ANCIENT HISTORY WITH VERITY 79 

and the old house at Chelsea was empty when he took 
Verity there after their brief honeymoon. She was 
almost frightened at its magnificence until her husband 
explained to her that they would be too poor to keep 
it all for themselves, and that a friend of his had taken 
the drawing-room floor and would live with them. 

Such were the outlines of the story related by Mal- 
colm, but in reality much of it was only learnt later on 
from Verity’s lips ; but even the slight sketch as Malcolm 
told it affected Anna almost to tears. 

Oh, how she must have loved him !” were her first 
words when he had finished. “ Malcolm, I know you will 
laugh at my enthusiasm, but I think Mr. Keston is one 
of the grandest and noblest of men. What a friend he 
has been to her all her life — she owes her life and peace 
and happiness to him ! What would have become of 
her when she left the hospital if he had not cared for her 
and placed her with those kind people at the farm?” 

One can easily answer that question,” returned Mal- 
colm ; “ she would not have been alive now. Her nerves 
were fearfully shattered, Anna, and she was as weak as 
a baby when she arrived at the Hill Farm. Amias told 
me himself that he carried her into house like an infant. 
There, dry your eyes, lady fair, all’s well that ends well. 
Now, as our hour is up, I think we may safely venture 
into the studio again.” 


CHAPTER VIII 


THE RECORD OF AN IMPOTENT GENIUS 

And whether you climb up the mountain or go down the hill 
to the valley, whether you journey to the end of the world or 
merely walk round your house, none but yourself shall you meet 
on the highway of fate. — Maeterlinck. 

The door of the studio was slightly ajar, and the sound 
of a singularly sweet voice crooning out a lullaby was 
plainly audible. Malcolm, who was about to knock, 
changed his mind and peeped in through the aperture; 
then he beckoned to Anna to do likewise. 

It was certainly a pretty picture before them. Verity 
was sitting in her low nursery chair, in the shadow of the 
heavy, ruby-coloured curtains, hushing her child to sleep, 
while her husband, at a little distance, stood before his 
easel; but she was so utterly transformed that Anna 
would not have known her. 

She wore the dress of a Roman peasant; heavy gilt 
beads were clasped round her throat and fell over her 
white pleated chemisette, a gay-coloured scarf was ar- 
ranged picturesquely on her head and gave warmth and 
colour to the small brown face. On her lap lay Babs. 
open-eyed and rebellious, kicking up her bare little feet 
and humming baby fashion in pleased accompaniment. 

Oh, Amias,” exclaimed Verity at last in a laughing 
voice, ^Vhat am I to do with this naughty girlie, who 
refuses to go to sleep and only laughs in her mother’s 
face? Oh, you darling, you darling!” and here Verity 
smothered the little one with kisses. 

‘‘ Behold the stern parent !” observed Malcolm mock- 
ingly at this point. “ Verity, that rogue of a Babs is a 
8o 


RECORD OF AN IMPOTENT GENIUS 8i 


match for you already. Why don’t you put her in her cot 
and order her to go to sleep, instead of crooning absurd 
ditties over her? Oh, I thought so,” severely, as Babs 
grasped her toes with her dimpled hands in the practised 
style of an acrobat, and gurgled defiantly in his face; 

she is just exulting over her own victory as an emanci- 
pated daughter.” 

“ Babs takes after her great-grandmother,” observed 
Amias cheerfully from the background ; “ it is the law of 
heredity, you see. Her name was also Barbara — Barbara 
Allen, and she was remarkable for her brown skin, her 
gipsy beauty, and her incorrigible self-will. She had 
lovers by the score, and flouted them all except my great- 
grandfather, whom I have reason to believe wished him- 
self dead before he had been married a week. She was 
the mother of fifteen, and lived to a good old age, and was 
a pride and terror to the neighbourhood, and the mantle 
of her self-will has fallen upon Barbara Maud Keston. 
Yea- Verily, my child, the oracle has spoken,” and Amias 
went on with his work, while Babs gurgled at him in de- 
lighted appreciation of these paternal sentiments. 

“ Would Miss Sheldon care to see my picture, Mal- 
colm ?” he asked the next minute in his usual voice ; it 
is nearly finished, and I shall be glad of an opinion;” 
and then he drew back from the canvas, and Malcolm and 
Anna took his place. 

It was one of those little studies from life that appeal 
so strongly to the popular taste, and in spite of its sim- 
plicity and absence of breadth, it was exquisitely painted. 
It was only a couple of organ-grinders resting during 
the noontide heat. The man was sitting on the curb with 
a short pipe in his mouth — a handsome rascal of a fellow, 
evidently an Italian, with gold rings ip his ears. The 
woman, in peasant costume, looked heated and weary, and 
had a baby in her arms. Both mother and child were 
painted from life. 


6 


82 


HERB OF GRACE 


“ How beautiful !” whispered Anna, looking reverently 
at the giant beside her. 

“ It is one of your best pictures, Goliath,” observed 
Malcolm, “ but I suppose you do not intend to exhibit it 
next year ?” 

“ Oh no,” he returned, “ it is already bespoken by a rich 
Australian. Rainsford brought him here to see if he 
would give me an order, and he fell in love with my 
organ-grinders at once. I had a sort of idea that I would 
keep it myself, for the sake of Verity and the kid; but 
with a family” — here Amias smoothed his yellow mous- 
tache proudly — one is bound to keep the pot boiling.” 

“ I did not want it to go,” sighed Verity, who had just 
then sidled up to her husband — she looked a mere child 
beside him — “ it is such a perfect likeness of Babs.” 
And then she withdrew with the rebel, while the others 
made a turn round the studio ; and Amias showed them 
sketches, and also a more important picture that was to 
be exhibited at the Royal Academy the following year. 
Verity was the model again — this time as a sick gipsy 
girl lying on a heap of straw in a barn, while the caravan 
and encampment were painted most realistically, even 
to the old horse and shaggy donkey hobbled to the trunk 
of a tree, with a thin yellow cur near them. When com- 
pleted it would be a striking picture: the smoky sunset 
tints of a November afternoon were faithfully depicted; 
and a woodman’s hut, just falling into decay, with golden 
lichen on the rotting roof, was marvellously painted. 
Malcolm stood before it in a rapt mood of ecstasy, then 
he struck himself dramatically on the breast. 

Goliath,” he said sorrowfully, “ I am the most miser- 
able of men, a ‘ mute inglorious Milton’ is nothing to me. 
Nature has created me a lover of the picturesque. In 
heart and soul I am an artist, I dabble in colours, I dream 
of lights and shades and glorious effects ; but the power 
of working out my ideas is denied me. If I try to paint 


RECORD OF AN IMPOTENT GENIUS 83 

a tree my friends gibe at me. I am a poor literary hack ; 
but I give you my word, my dear old Philistine, that I 
would willingly change places with you.” Anna smiled, 
she was accustomed to this sort of talk; but to her sur- 
prise Verity, who had just rejoined them, looked grave. 

I am always so sorry for Mr. Herrick when he says 
this sort of thing,” she observed in a low voice aside to 
Anna. “ He means us to laugh, but he is quite serious. 
Amias and I just know how he feels. It must be so sad 
to love the beautiful with all one’s heart and not have the 
power to create — to be just a thought and word painter 
and nothing else.” 

“ Perhaps if Malcolm took lessons he might be able 
to paint in time,” suggested Anna. She felt rather cul- 
pable, as though all these years she had not sympathised 
enough with him ; but then it was so difficult for any one 
to know when he was serious. 

It was evident that Verity understood him. 

Oh no, it is too late now,” she remarked ; “ besides, 
the gift has been denied him. But he helps Amias so 
much by his clever suggestions. He would not tell you, 
of course, but this caravan scene is all his idea. He 
came upon a gipsy encampment in a Kentish lane one 
afternoon, and he made Amias go down the next day and 
see it. There was the woodman’s hut, and the barn, and 
the hobbled horse and donkey. Amias was down there at 
the inn three days, making sketches for the picture, and 
getting some of the gipsies to sit to him. There was one 
woman ill in the tent, but Amias declared she looked more 
like a sick ape, she was so ugly — so I had to be the 
model.” 

“ Isn’t it rather tiring work, Mrs. Keston?” 

''Oh dear, no,” returned Verity smiling; "it never 
tires me to do things for Amias ; and then he lets me talk 
to him all the time. I like to feel I am useful to him, 
and can help him a little with his work.” 


84 


HERB OF GRACE 


“ Oh yes, I can understand that,” returned Anna softly. 
She thought Verity looked quite beautiful as she spoke; 
perhaps the costume of a Roman peasant suited her, but 
Anna, who was standing quite close to her, noticed the 
wonderful softness of the brown eyes and the length of 
the curling lashes. Babs had grown drowsy at last, and 
Verity had placed her in the cot. Then they all sat down 
for a brief chat before it was time for Malcolm to take 
Anna home. 

They had been talking about Amias Keston’s unfin- 
ished picture, and, as usual, Malcolm had been holding 
forth in his role of art critic, when one of those sudden 
pauses which seem to drop softly between intimate friends 
followed his concluding speech. Verity held up her finger 
with the hackneyed allusion to a passing angel, at which 
Malcolm laughed scornfully. 

“You are too poetical, my dear Verity,” he observed; 
“ it was no white-robed celestial vision brushing past us 
in the twilight and fanning us with plumed and balmy 
wings; the gliding shadow that moved between us was 
merely the guardian genius who presides over my destiny. 
But as he passed I touched his mantle” — and here Mal- 
colm regarded his audience with infinite meaning. 

No one hazarded an observation. Amias, who had been 
filling his pipe with tobacco, looked at it longingly and 
returned it to his pocket. This process he repeated at 
intervals from sheer force of habit. With his pipe alight 
he was an ideal listener; without it his attention wan- 
dered and grew drowsy. But Malcolm, wrapt up in his 
own visionary conceits, did not see the pathos of the 
action. 

He was on his favourite hobby-horse — life, and its 
limitations, its enforced denials and futile sacrifices, was 
opening before his eyes. 

“ I am going to write a book,” he announced abruptly. 
“ I mean to take the world by storm — to say my say — for 


RECORD OF AN IMPOTENT GENIUS 85 

once. It will not be a novel. The public is inundated by 
the flood of fiction that threatens to engulf it. We have 
biographies by the ton, in two, three, or four volumes; 
in every public place in England we set up our golden 
image, and we bid men, women, and children fall down 
and do it homage. Hero-worship is our favourite cult; 
woe to that man who refuses to burn incense before it !” 

“ I suppose you intend to bring out a volume of es- 
says?” queried Amias lazily. 

“ No, my dear fellow,” returned Malcolm rather men- 
daciously, for he was planning a series of essays at that 
very time. “No trifles and syllabubs for me — froth above 
and sweetness and jam beneath. Every one writes essays 
nowadays, and tries to stir with his little Gulliver pen the 
yeasty foam raised by a Carlyle or an Emerson. One 
might as well watch the effort of a small hairy caterpillar 
to follow in the wake of a sea-serpent. Oh ye gods and 
little fishes, could anything be more grotesque !” 

“ But the book ?” growled Amias, with a surreptitious 
glance at his pipe. 

“ Oh, the book,” returned Malcolm loftily, “ it is a 
sudden inspiration, but I feel the grip of my Franken- 
stein already; I have not yet let go the mantle of my 
guardian genius. It will be autobiographical, expansive, 
and deep as human nature itself, and I shall call it ‘ The 
Record of an Impotent Genius.’ ” 

“ Good lack !” observed Amias in a disgusted tone, 
“ what a drivelling title ! Why impotent, in the name of 
all that is rational ?” 

“ My dear old Philistine,” returned his friend in a 
measured voice, “ I use the word impotent in the mean- 
ing attached to it in Holy Writ, and as my beloved and 
well-thumbed Thesaurus uses it: impotent, powerless, 
unarmed, weaponless, paralytic, crippled, inoperative, in- 
effectual, inadequate. Think of the strong man bound 
for a lifetime, Goliath — of a dumb and palsied genius 


86 


HERB OF GRACE 


gazing out of a prison-house. Could even a blinded 
Samson equal the pathos of such a picture ?” 

Amias shook his head mutely, and felt a third time for 
his pipe, and plugged the tobacco tenderly with his finger. 
In some moods he never argued with Malcolm. 

“ I shall write the autobiography of this poor tor- 
mented soul,” went on Malcolm — “ this dumb poet, this 
crippled artist, to whom the birthright of failure has 
descended, who has to look on for a lifetime at other 
men’s labours, and to whom the power of expression and 
creation is denied, who has been gifted with the seeing 
eye in vain.” 

‘‘ Oh that seeing eye !” groaned Amias, who had heard 
this observation at least a hundred times. Then Verity 
began to laugh, and, to Anna’s surprise, Malcolm fol- 
lowed suit. Then he clapped Amias heavily on the shoul- 
der. 

“ Where’s your pipe, Goliath ? Poor old Philistine, he 
is a gone coon without his baccy. Fetch him a match 
somebody.” And as Amias feebly protested against this, 
he went on — “ Anna is quite a Bohemian, and rather likes 
the smell of tobacco. I will have a cigarette to keep you 
company,” and in another minute Amias’s broad counte- 
nance wore its usual expression of placid enjoyment. 

The conversation turned on Cedric Templeton, and 
Malcolm asked Verity if she could transform the lumber- 
room into a bedroom for two or three nights for the use 
of his friend. This she at once cheerfully undertook to 
do, and promised to have it ready by the following even- 
ing, and then he informed them of his intended visit to 
Staplegrove. 

Verity’s eyes at once challenged her husband. “ Sta- 
plegrove,” she said in a surprised voice, “ do you mean 
Staplegrove in Surrey ? Why, that is the very place where 
the Logans live.” 

'' Are you speaking of Matt Logan ?” asked Malcolm. 


RECORD OF AN IMPOTENT GENIUS 87 

Of course he lives down there ; but I heard the other 
day that he had come in for some money, and had gone 
abroad for his wife’s health.” 

Oh, that’s right enough,” returned Amias. “ Verity 
and I saw them off two days ago. They have gone to the 
Black Forest. I meant to have told you before, but some- 
thing put it out of my head — that he has lent us his cot- 
tage.” 

“ What a piece of good luck ! Upon my word, I am 
inclined to envy you, Goliath.” 

“ There is no need for you to do that,” returned Amias 
cordially. “ There will be a ' prophet’s chamber’ ready 
for you when you feel inclined to run down. It is a nice 
little place enough. ‘ The Crow’s Nest’ they call it, 
though I am not sure there are any crows about. Verity 
and I ran down to have a look at it. The house is a mere 
cottage, only just room to swing two cats and a kitten — 
not a corner for any impotent genius to woo the drowsy 
god in,” and here Amias gave a great laugh ; but there 
is a queer sort of garden room Logan has built which he 
calls his workshop, and part of it is partitioned off as a 
bedroom. It is a bit airy in the winter, he says, but sim- 
ply perfect in the summer. You can sleep with your win- 
dow wide open, and great tea-roses nodding in at you, 
and now and then a night- jar or a black- winged bat flit- 
ting between you and the moon.” 

“ It is a little bare certainly,” observed Verity, but so 
pleasant, and I think I could make it comfortable for you, 
Mr. Herrick. The side window looks out on a flower- 
oorder. There are great yellow clumps of evening prim- 
roses and milky white nicotiana, and the roses are simply 
everywhere.” 

“ How long shall you stay ?” asked Malcolm in an in- 
terested voice. 

“ Well, the Logans have offered it to us until the end 
of October,” returned Verity; “and as it is so hot in 


88 


HERB OF GRACE 


town, Amias proposed this morning that we should try 
and get off in another ten days. I think we shall stay 
there until the end of summer.” 

“ And what am I to do without you both — a lonely 
bachelor?” exclaimed Malcolm. “For selfishness and 
want of feeling commend me to married people. With 
regard to their less fortunate fellows they have simply no 
conscience.” 

“ My dear fellow, you will be as right as a trivet,” 
returned Amias. “ You will have the Snark to attend to 
your comforts, and the maternal Snark — a sad-faced but 
most respectable woman — to attend to her daughter’s. 
We have the Logan’s servant, and a slip of a girl besides, 
a sort of Marchioness, who answers to the name of 
Miranda. Verity will find her a comfort with Babs.” 

“ And I am to run down to the Crow’s Nest when I 
like?” Then Amias nodded a cheerful assent. 

“We shall expect you from Saturday till Monday, and 
as many more days as you like to give us. You are part 
of the household, my dear fellow. I wish we could offer 
a room to Miss Sheldon; but we shall have to turn the 
spare room into a nursery. By the bye, Malcolm, I 
strolled down the road with Logan and passed the Wood 
House. It looks a charming place, and it is only a stone’s 
throw from the Crow’s Nest.” 

Malcolm felt vaguely interested. What a small world 
it was after all ! He was going to make acquaintance 
with Cedric’s people in this remote corner of Surrey, and 
lo and behold, Goliath and his belongings were following 
him. 

Well, he was sick of the heat and turmoil of town, and 
it would not be a bad plan to take possession of the gar- 
den room, and make Verity find a quiet nook where he 
could write undisturbed. He really had a brilliant scheme 
in his head — some essays which should interlace and 
overlap each other like a linked chain of curious work- 


RECORD OF AN IMPOTENT GENIUS 89 

manship. He had already accumulated his material, and 
he only wanted leisure to write. He knew his trade well, 
and his strong, vigorous style, his admirable choice of 
words, his pure English, and above all, his complete 
knowledge of his subject, were already bringing him into 
notice with the critics. 

Yes, his summer holiday should be spent at the Crow’s 
Nest, and he would work and play at his own sweet will. 
It was a pity Anna could not join them for a week or two. 
She and Verity would have become such friends ; and 
then he remembered his mother’s prejudices. Besides, 
she was thinking of going to Whitby, and if so she would 
expect Anna to accompany her. 

It was time for them to go now; but, as they drove 
home in a hansom, Malcolm suddenly laid his hand on 
Anna’s. You are very quiet, dear,” he said gently. 

Have I tired you, or has your day disappointed you ?” 
But he was amazed when the girl turned her face to him, 
for he saw her eyes were full of unshed tears. 

“ Oh no, it has been perfect — you and your friends have 
been so good to me, Malcolm. It will be like a beautiful 
picture — the river and the studio and the sunset. But 
why must pleasant things come to an end?” And then 
she sighed, and said half to herself, “ There will be no 
Wood House or Crow’s Nest for me and Anna’s voice 
was so sad as she said this that Malcolm felt quite a pang 
of pity cross him. Why was Anna’s life so dull, and his 
so full of interest ? 


CHAPTER IX 


THE WOOD HOUSE 

Without love there is no interior pleasantness of life. — Swe- 
denborg. 

It was a lovely July afternoon when Malcolm Herrick 
and his friend arrived at Earlsfield. A smart dog-cart, 
Cedric’s own especial property, was waiting for them at 
the station. As they mounted to their places, and Cedric 
took the reins from the groom, he pointed out the good 
points of the mare with an air of complacency and satis- 
faction that somewhat amused Malcolm; but the next 
moment he said in a boyish manner, “ You see, Herrick, 
I have not got quite used to my new toy. My sisters 
gave me the trap on my last birthday. I have had Brown 
Becky for two years. She is good for either driving 
or riding ; but I dropped a hint once, in Dinah’s hearing, 
that I longed for a dog-cart, and though she said noth- 
ing at the time, she and Elizabeth put their heads to- 
gether, and they got Mr. Brodrick, a neighbour of ours, 
to choose it.” 

Your sisters are very good to you,” observed Mal- 
colm in rather a patronising manner. He even smiled 
to himself furtively at the thought of the two gentle 
spinsters. “ A good-looking boy like Cedric is always 
spoilt by his womankind,” he said to himself. “ If I 
ever get on intimate terms with them, which is very un- 
likely, I shall tell them that all this petting and spoiling 
is not good for the lad, and will only unfit him for his 
work in life. Woqien have no sense of proportion,” he 
continued rather irritably ; they either do too much 
or too little, and the Misses Templeton seem to be no 
exceptions to the rule.” 
go 


THE WOOD HOUSE 


91 


They had left Earlsfield behind them, and were now 
climbing the long, winding ascent that led to Staplegrove. 
As the road grew steeper. Brown Becky slackened her 
pace. 

The heavy storms had tempered the great heat, and 
though the sky was cloudless and the sunshine brilliant, 
the trees meeting overhead gave them a pleasant shade, 
and a soft, refreshing breeze blew in their faces. Mal- 
colm drew a long breath of delight. 

“ There is nothing like the country after all,” he ob- 
served. “ When I have made my pile, I shall pitch my 
tent or build myself a hut far from the madding crowd, 
and bid good-bye to Lincoln’s Inn, and Piccadilly, and 
club-land, and all the delights of modern civilisation.” 

“ Not you, old fellow,” returned Cedric sagaciously. 
“ Why, you would be bored to death in no time.” But 
Malcolm shook his head. 

“Am I not a lover of the picturesque, my dear boy? 
Nature intended me for a country gentleman.” Malcolm 
so dearly loved argument for its own sake that he did 
not always consider it necessary to weigh the accurate 
truth of his words. He liked to take different views of 
the same subject. On more than one occasion in Cedric’s 
hearing he had compared himself with Charles Lamb. 
“ Custom had made the presence of society, streets and 
crowds, the theatre and the picture-gallery, an absolute 
necessity.” Why, in some moods he would take this as 
his text, and discourse most eloquently on what he called 
the spectacle of the streets. “ There are few days when 
there are not groups of Hogarth-like figures,” he would 
say — “ sketches from the life, abounding in humour or 
infinite pathos. There is a blind beggar and his dog over 
in a corner by the Temple station,” he continued, “ that 
I never can pass without putting a penny in the box. 
The dog’s face is perfectly human in its expression. The 
eyes speak. I gave him a bone once — a meaty bone it 


92 


HERB OF GRACE 


was, too” — and here Malcolm looked a little ashamed of 
himself — “ in fact, it was a mutton chop, and I stole it 
off the luncheon table. I kept the beggar in conversa- 
tion while he ate it. Sir,” for he was addressing Amias 
Keston at that moment, that dog positively grovelled 
at my feet with affection and gratitude.” 

“ How many mutton chops has he had since ?” asked 
his friend. 

He never had another,” responded Malcolm sadly. 

The carriage of a greasy paper full of meat is too 
much even for my philanthropy; but I take him dry 
biscuits — sometimes Spratt’s meat biscuits — and tobacco 
for the beggar. He is an old soldier and wears his medal ; 
and the dog — Boxer is his name — is like Nathan’s ewe 
lamb to him. He has got a crippled son — a natural he 
calls him — who fetches him home in the evening. I saw 
him once,” went on Malcolm, puffing slowly at his ciga- 
rette, “ an uncouth sort of chap on crutches ; and when 
Boxer saw him he nearly knocked him down, jumping 
on him for joy; and they all went home together, quite 
a cheerful family party.” 

You would not be happy away from town, Herrick,” 
persisted Cedric; “that’s such a jolly crib of yours at 
Cheyne Walk;” for he had been greatly struck by the 
Keston menage, and had quite fallen in love with his 
quaint little hostess; while Verity, on her side, had 
taken very kindly to the handsome lad, and made much 
of him for Malcolm’s sake. 

“ Oh, I am comfortable enough,” returned Malcolm. 
“ Chelsea is sacred ground to me. Did not Carlyle live 
and die there ! Besides, there is the river and the bridges, 
and Battersea Park in the distance, and the house where 
Gabriel Dante Rossetti lived, and an old historical 
church, and the grand old Hospital, and all sorts of gray 
secluded old nooks and corners over which I can gloat 
when I take my walks abroad.” 


THE WOOD HOUSE 


93 


“ What a queer chap you are, Herrick,” Cedric re^ 
turned in a puzzled tone. He felt rather like the be- 
wildered Satyr when the traveller blew hot and cold. 
But Malcolm was perfectly sincere. No man loved the 
country more truly and sincerely. Nevertheless, the town 
was equally necessary to him; and if he had been com- 
pelled to choose between them, his casting vote would 
have been for town. 

“ We are at the top of the hill now,” observed Cedric 
presently, with a jerk of the reins to remind Brown 
Becky that she must not go to sleep, and then they bowled 
swiftly down a wide open road. They had just passed 
a cross-road, which, as Cedric informed Malcolm, led 
to Rotherwood, where the nearest church and shops were, 
when Malcolm’s attention was attracted by a house they 
were passing. It was a small gray house, standing rather 
back from the road, with a garden at the side full of gay 
flower-borders. 

“ Oh, that’s the Crow’s Nest,” observed Cedric, 
where the Logans live ; that is where your friends 
the Kestons are coming. Oh, there is no need of look- 
ing at it now,” as Malcolm craned his neck in his effort 
to see more of it ; /‘we can go over it any day we like. 
Here we are at the Wood House,” and Cedric drove in 
at an open gate. 

Malcolm looked round in pleased surprise. At that 
moment the house was not visible. They seemed driving 
through a little wood — only the carriage road winding 
between the fir trees was beautifully kept. Now and then 
there was an open glade, but the greater part was thickly 
fringed with heather, bracken, and whortleberry bushes. 

The next moment Cedric turned a corner sharply, and 
a low gray house and a well-kept tennis lawn were before 
them. 

“ What a charming place !” exclaimed Malcolm. “ It 
certainly merits its name — it is indeed a Wood House.” 


94 


HERB OF GRACE 


“ Dinah is going to build a lodge next year,” returned 
Cedric. “ Lots of people refuse to believe there is a house 
in the wood, and lose themselves a dozen times before 
they find it. Ah, there’s Dinah on the look-out for us. 
Jump down, Herrick ; I will follow you directly. I want 
to speak to Forbes about the mare.” 

Malcolm did as he was told, and entered the long, 
softly-lighted hall. Perhaps the sunshine had dazzled 
his eyes a little, but at that instant he thought it was a 
young girl who was advancing to meet him. The figure 
was so rounded and graceful, and there was such alert- 
ness and youthfulness in the bearing; but as she came 
closer to him he saw that her hair was quite gray. 

I am very pleased indeed to see you, Mr. Herrick,” 
she observed in a pleasant voice. “We have heard so 
much of you from Cedric that you seem quite an old 
friend. I am afraid you will find us very quiet, homely 
people; but I daresay Cedric will have prepared you 
for that. He grumbles dreadfully, poor boy, at our old- 
fashioned, humdrum ways.” 

“ I can assure you. Miss Templeton, that the quiet will 
be very restful after the turmoil of town,” returned Mal- 
colm seriously; “and, as far as I can judge at present, 
Staplegrove seems a perfect paradise;” and then Miss 
Templeton smiled and led the way into a pleasant, cosy- 
looking drawing-room, with three windows opening on 
to a terrace, below which lay a charming garden. On 
this side of the house the wood ended abruptly; but in 
the distance, beyond a rose arch, Malcolm caught sight 
of a little rustic bridge which seemed to span a sort of 
green ravine. 

Miss Templeton had taken her place at the tea-table; 
but Malcolm did not at once follow her. “ After all, 
town has its drawbacks,” he said half to himself; but 
Miss Templeton understood him. 

“ You mean one has to do without gardens there,” 


THE WOOD HOUSE 


95 


she returned. That would never suit either my sister 
or myself; our garden is very dear to us. You have 
not seen all its beauties yet, Mr. Herrick,” she continued 
brightly ; “ it is full of surprises. When I have given 
you some tea we will go in search of my sister. She 
is sure to be down at the Pool — we call it Ophelia’s Pool, 
because it reminds us so of a picture we have seen in 
the Royal Academy. It is our favourite haunt on a hot 
summer’s afternoon.” 

Malcolm made an appropriate reply, and for the next 
few minutes they talked pleasantly of Staplegrove, and 
the short cut that led to Rotherwood church and village ; 
and then Cedric joined them, and began chatting volubly 
to his sister; and Malcolm drank his tea and watched 
them both. He owned to Anna afterwards that Dinah 
Templeton was a revelation to him, and that all his pre- 
conceived notions of her fell as flat as a pack of cards. 

The demure and somewhat stately spinster he was ex- 
pecting to see was certainly not en evidence in this gray- 
haired, radiant-looking woman; the soft, girlish bloom 
and the silvery hair were wonderfully attractive; and 
yet what struck him most, with a sort of indefinable 
surprise, was the mingled gentleness and brightness of 
expression ; there was such a wonderful clearness in the 
eyes — it somehow reminded him of the innocent look of 
a happy child. 

And it was to this sweet woman that Cedric was 
talking in that cavalier fashion — with much aflfection 
certainly, but little reverence, after the manner of the 
nineteenth-century youth. More than once Malcolm 
muttered “ Jackanapes” under his breath, and once he 
interposed. 

“ Our young friend is too modern in his notions. Miss 
Templeton,” he observed. “ Young Oxford is so cock- 
sure of everything under the sun — it is a fault of the 
age.” 


96 


HERB OF GRACE 


“Oh, do you think so?” and Miss Templeton looked 
relieved ; for the moment her serenity had seemed slightly 
clouded with what her sister always called her “ hen and 
duckling look.” 

“ Oh, you may laugh, Cedric,” looking at him fondly, 
“ but I intend to believe Mr. Herrick, he is older and 
more experienced. Oh, we have such arguments some- 
times,” turning to Malcolm. “ Cedric will have it that 
we are not sufficiently up-to-date. We are mediaeval or 
in the Dark Ages, according to him, but how is one to 
alter one’s nature or to talk unknown languages? My 
sister and I are very conservative, and we cling to the 
beliefs and loves of the past.” 

“ I don’t believe Cedric wants to change you in the 
least. Miss Templeton; he is only posing a bit for your 
edification, and trying to make you think that he is as 
clever as he looks.” 

“ Come now, draw it mild,” growled Cedric. And then 
he looked discontentedly round the room. “ Where’s 
Dick and the rest of the fellows? I bet you anything 
you like. Die, that they are down with Elizabeth at the 
Pool.” 

Dinah smiled as she rose from the table. “ You are 
right, dear,” she returned composedly, “ I saw the whole 
train following her as usual. Dick wanted to go with the 
dog-cart, — he knew his master was expected, but Forbes 
said it was too hot for the run. If you are ready, Cedric, 
we might go down to the Pool now.” And as Cedric 
graciously intimated his readiness, Dinah led the way 
through the flower-garden, only pausing on the rustic 
bridge to let Malcolm lean over and admire the hanging 
gardens below, the sides of the little ravine being clothed 
from the top to the bottom with wild-flowers and plants 
of every description. The traveller’s joy had even gained 
a footing on the bridge itself. To add to the beauty, a 
tiny rivulet, which seemed to take its rise from some 


THE WOOD HOUSE 


97 

invisible source, flowed through the flowery ravine like 
a silver thread. 

“ What a charming spot !” observed Malcolm in a tone 
of such sincere admiration that Miss Templeton looked, 
quite gratified. 

It was my sister’s idea,” she said softly ; “ she origi- 
nates most of our improvements. Now, as you see, we 
have come to the end of our garden and are going down 
that little woodland path. We are both passionately fond 
of flowers, and like to see them from the house, but in 
our hearts I believe we love our wild garden best.” 

“ And you are right — one could never be tired of this,” 
and Malcolm glanced at the slender stems of the firs 
and the soft green light between the tree-boles. Just 
here the ground was bare except for the carpet of brown 
needles, but the next moment the path became more 
tangled and sloped rather steeply. They could distinctly 
hear a dog bark. “ Take him to the peep-hole,” whis- 
pered Cedric in his sister’s ear, and Miss Templeton 
nodded and stepped off the path; then she beckoned 
Malcolm to look through some interlacing branches which 
formed a natural arch. 

It was a charming little sylvan scene that met his eyes. 
The spot had been fitly called Ophelia’s Pool. The small 
pond was shut in with rowans and thickets of alder and 
blackberry bushes, and on the pond itself some water-lilies 
and other aquatic plants were growing. Two or three 
rough boulders, cushioned with moss, made comfort- 
,able seats, and were at the present moment occupied by 
two people — one of them evidently the second Miss 
Templeton, and the other a young man in a rough serge 
suit, whom at first sight Malcolm certainly did not take 
for a clergyman; and round them, in various attitudes 
of waiting and expectancy, dogs of all sorts and condi- 
tions — from a handsome brown retriever to Cedric’s 
little fox-terrier, Dick. 


7 


HERB OF GRACE 


' 98 

“ My word, there’s Carlyon,” observed Cedric in rather 
an aggrieved tone ; why, the fellow lives here and 
then he put his hands to his mouth and gave a view- 
hallo so lustily that all the dogs began barking like mad. 
Only Dick — who was a knowing fellow and up to tricks 
— rushed up the path and began dancing excitedly round 
his master. 

“ What barbarians boys are !” observed the other Miss 
Templeton somewhat coolly to her companion, and then 
she rose from the boulder and walked rather majestically 
towards her sister and their guest. 

Her manner was friendly, and she greeted Malcolm 
kindly enough, but it was less soft and winning than her 
sister’s, and did not impress him so favourably. Then 
she introduced Mr. Carlyon, and the two young men 
shook hands ; and afterwards the dogs passed in review, 
and Elizabeth gravely named each one, ending up with 
her sister’s little dachshund Mike. 

Malcolm, who was a dog-lover, although he had none 
of his own, was soon making friends with all the ani- 
mals ; but as he praised and caressed them, he was tell- 
ing himself over and over again that the second Miss 
Templeton could not hold a candle to her sister. 

Malcolm was terribly critical with regard to women; 
Anna had often blamed him for his severity. 

“ It is a mistake to expect perfection,” she would say ; 
“ it is so easy to find fault and pick holes in people but 
though Malcolm agreed with her, he still remained fas- 
tidious and hard to please. So he at once decided that 
Miss Elizabeth Templeton was not to his taste. In the 
first place, he did not admire big women — and she was 
tall, and decidedly massive. Her dress, too, was singu- 
larly unbecoming — a big woman in a cotton blouse and 
a battered old hat was a spectacle to make him shudder. 
Miss Templeton’s blue muslin and dainty ruffles were a 
pleasing contrast. 


THE WOOD HOUSE 


99 


It is a woman’s duty to set herself off as much as 
possible,” he would say to the long-suffering Anna, and 
then he transposed a certain saying, “ If you can’t be 
handsome, be as handsome as you can;” and he would 
hold forth on the immorality of slovenliness. 

‘‘ I daresay Miss Elizabeth Templeton would not be 
bad-looking if she only took a little pains with herself,” 
he thought, as they all grouped themselves comfortably 
on the boulders. After a moment’s hesitation, Elizabeth 
placed herself beside him and begun to talk to him. 
Somehow her voice pleased him. It was not so sweet as 
her sister’s, and there was a sort of burr in it, and when 
he knew her better he discovered that when she was 
eager or excited about anything there was a slight hesi- 
tation, as though her words tripped each other up; but 
with all its defects it was a voice to linger in the memory. 
She was so close to him now that he could judge of her 
better. She was certainly not handsome, her features 
were irregular and her mouth decidedly too wide for 
beauty; but the gleam of faultlessly white teeth and a 
certain brightness in the dark Irish-gray eyes redeemed 
her face from plainness; her skin, too, was clear and 
naturally fair, but was evidently embrowned by air and 
sunshine. 

Nature had formed her in a generous mould, for even 
her hands and feet were large ; and then Malcolm thought 
of Anna’s pretty little hands, and again he said to him- 
self that in his opinion Elizabeth Templeton was not an 
attractive woman. 


LoFC. 


CHAPTER X 


WHAT THE FERN-OWL HEARD 

There is but one thing that can never turn into suffering, and 
that is the good we have done. — Maeterlinck. 

It takes two to speak truth — one to speak and another to hear. 
— Thoreau. 

While Malcolm was trying to make himself agreeable 
to the second Miss Templeton, and not succeeding as well 
as he could wish, he more than once broke off the conver- 
sation to listen with some amusement to the bantering by- 
play going on between Cedric and the young clergyman, 
Mr. Carlyon. 

They were evidently on intimate terms, for Cedric ad- 
dressed him as David or Davie in the most unceremonious 
manner. Mr. Carlyon appeared to be quite young, cer- 
tainly not more than six- or seven-and-twenty, and had an 
odd, characteristic, but most pleasant face, that somehow 
took Malcolm’s fancy at once. It was rather thin and 
pale, and the mouth a little receding, but the broad fore- 
head and kindly, frank-looking eyes somewhat redeemed 
this defect. There was so much life and animation in his 
expression ; and a boyish eagerness in his manner, a 
curious abruptness in his speech, a certain quick clipping 
of words and sentences, only added to his marked indi- 
viduality, and was by no means disagreeable when one 
had become accustomed to it. 

Malcolm soon found out that he was the curate belong- 
ing to Rotherwood, the church attended by the Templeton 
family; and it was soon evident to him that the sisters, 
Miss Elizabeth especially, took a great interest in paro- 
chial matters. 


100 


WHAT THE FERN-OWL HEARD loi 

“ How is old Dr. Dryasdust ?” asked Cedric presently, 
but he spoke in a jeering tone. Then Elizabeth laughed,' 
but Dinah looked shocked, and Mr. Carlyon threw a dry 
clod at him. 

“ It really is not such a bad name,’’ observed Elizabeth 
softly, as though to herself, and then her eyes encountered 
Mr. Car ly on’s — it was evident that he agreed with her. 

“ The vicar is not a lively person, certainly,” he re- 
joined, “ but all the same I have a great respect for him. 
He is a trifle too mediaeval for these days, and his envi- 
ronment does not suit him a bit.” 

“ He ought to be a fellow of his college — spending his 
days in disinterring dusty old folios in the Bodleian,” pur- 
sued Cedric, instead of being vicar of Rotherwood.” 

“ I think very highly of Mr. Charrington,” and Dinah 
spoke rather gravely. “ He is not only a very learned 
man, but he is such a thorough gentleman. Poor man, it 
is a blessing that he has you near him, Mr. Carlyon, for 
his life is very lonely.” 

Why does he not get married then ?” growled Cedric. 
“ I bet you he is not much over fifty.” Then again Eliza- 
beth and Mr. Carlyon exchanged glances. 

“ I don’t think the vicar ever intends to enter the holy 
estate of matrimony,” returned Mr. Carlyon. “ He is an 
old bachelor by choice, and in my humble opinion is likely 
to remain so; and then his worthy housekeeper, Mrs. 
Finch, makes him so thoroughly comfortable.” 

“ I heard something once from one of our fellows,” 
observed Cedric, with a mischievous glance at Dinah — 
he knew well her objection to gossip. “ He was not 
always a woman-hater. Palgrave of Lincoln told me that 
he had been engaged to a lady, and that just before the 
wedding-day the engagement was broken off; no one 
seemed to know the rights of it, but ever since he has 
been a little shy of petticoats.” 

“ Cedric, I am sure it is time for us to dress for dinner. 


102 


HERB OF GRACE 


the gong must have sounded long ago. Will you show 
Mr. Herrick his room?” Dinah spoke with gentle de- 
cision, and as she evidently expected Malcolm to join 
her, he rose from his seat. As he did so he heard Eliza- 
beth say in a low voice to Mr. Carlyon, “ I wonder 
if Cedric’s story is a true one.” “ Very possibly — 
why not ?” was the answer ; he looks like a man with 
a past/’ and then they dropped behind and he heard no 
more. 

It is never well to form an opinion too soon ; before 
the next half-hour had passed Malcolm had been com- 
pelled to readjust his ideas on the subject of Miss Eliza- 
beth Templeton. When he saw her again he would 
hardly have recognised her. Her massive but well-pro- 
portioned figure looked to its best advantage in the black 
evening dress; the transparent material only set off the 
round white throat and finely-moulded arms to perfec- 
tion. The coils of brown hair were effectively arranged, 
and the shape of the head was beautiful. Before the 
evening was over Malcolm, in sheer honesty, was obliged 
to confess to himself that Miss Elizabeth Templeton was 
a very attractive woman, and would cast many prettier 
and younger faces into the shade. I wonder where her 
charm lies,” he soliloquised when he had retired to his 
bedroom that evening ; “ her sister is really almost beau- 
tiful, but, with the exception of a pair of very bright and 
expressive eyes. Miss Elizabeth has not a single good 
feature, and yet one is compelled to admire her. She is 
a little dignified and reserved with a stranger, and yet 
she is not shy; even while she talked to Mr. Carlyon, 
who certainly seems a sort of tame cat at the Wood 
House, I could see her looking at me as though she re- 
garded me with interest, but we have broken the ice now 
with a vengeance. 

“ One thing I have discovered,” he went on, as he 
looked dreamily down into the scented darkness of the 


WHAT THE FERN-OWL HEARD 103 

garden, “ she is a woman of large sympathies, with an 
excellent sense of humour, which her good heart and 
kindly nature keeps in good control ; and if I do not mis- 
take, she is the leading spirit of the house. The sisters 
seem to be devoted to each other ; and the way they spoil 

that boy and here Malcolm shook his head in strong 

disapproval, without being in the least aware that he was 
not free from that fault himself. He had just sent the 
lad away proud and happy by his delicately implied praise 
of the Wood House and its inmates. 

I am quite sure that I shall get on with your sisters, 
Cedric,” he had said with good-natured condescension; 

they seem to me such thoroughly good, kind-hearted 
women, and very superior to the generality of folk. How 
beautifully your sister Elizabeth sings! I have seldom 
heard a voice that pleased me better.” 

“ They both like you,” returned Cedric shyly. Dinah 
told me so at once ; and though Elizabeth did not actually 
say so, I could see by her manner how she enjoyed talk- 
ing to you ;” and indeed Malcolm had never been in better 
form. 

It had been a very pleasant evening; the small oval 
dinner-table, with its flowers exquisitely arranged, the 
open windows, with the dogs lying out on the terrace, 
were all to Malcolm’s taste. Everything was so well- 
appointed and so well-managed. The servants were evi- 
dently old retainers, and took a warm interest in their 
mistress’s guests. 

After dinner they had their coffee on the terrace, and 
watched the sun setting behind the fir woods, and when 
the last yellow gleam had faded away from the sky, at 
Dinah’s suggestion Elizabeth went into the drawing- 
room, where two pink-shaded lamps were already lighted, 
and seated herself at the piano. 

There is no occasion for us to go in,” observed Dinah, 
who had noticed Malcolm’s evident enjoyment of his 


104 


HERB OF GRACE 


cigarette ; we shall hear her perfectly out here, and 
Mr. Carlyon will turn over for her.” 

Such is human nature, for one instant Malcolm felt 
strongly impelled to throw away his cigarette and oust 
Mr. Carlyon from his snug corner, if only to teach him 
his place ; but indolence prevailed : his cigarette was too 
delicious, the air was so refreshing and balmy, and the 
pale globes of the evening primroses and the milky white- 
ness of the nicotianas gleamed so entrancingly in the soft 
dusk, that he felt himself unwilling to move. Even the 
curious notes of the night- jar seeking its prey in the dim 
light had a strange fascination for him, and he spoke of 
it more than once to Dinah. “ It is like the humming of 
a spinning-wheel,” he remarked ; “ it is very weird and 
uncanny.” 

“ So people always say,” she returned. “ It is the goat- 
sucker, you know; they are very fond of feeding on 
that sort of beetle called the gnat-chafer; in fact, it is 
their favourite food. It has another name, the fern-owl.” 

‘‘ So I have heard ;” and then, as a rich strong voice 
broke suddenly on his startled ears, he leant back in his 
hammock chair and composed himself to listen. 

It was a wonderful voice, so sweet and true and full 
of expression; there was such tenderness and depth in 
it, that it seemed in some mysterious way to touch the 
very recesses of the heart, and to play on the whole gamut 
of human feeling. Malcolm found himself thinking of 
his lonely childhood, and of his father, then he recalled his 
youthful aspirations and his old ideals. The thoughts 
of youth are long, long thoughts,” he said to himself, 
“ and the wind’s will is a boy’s will ;” and then, as the 
last lingering notes died away, he flung his cigarette 
aside and rose abruptly from his seat. 

“ You have given us a great treat,” he said in a low 
voice as Elizabeth stepped through the window. Mr. 
Carlyon was laying aside the pile of songs in the music 


WHAT THE FERN-OWL HEARD 105 


cabinet as neatly as though it were an accustomed duty. 
Malcolm gave him an impatient glance. “ One would 
think he belonged to the house,” he said to himself rather 
crossly. 

“ Please do not thank me,” returned Elizabeth smiling ; 
her eyes were very bright, and there was a warm flush 
on her face, which made her look young and handsome. 

It is my greatest pleasure to sing ; I believe if I had 
nothing else to do I should waste hours at the piano.” 

“ The hours would not be wasted,” replied Malcolm. 
“ It is a great gift, and like all other great gifts it should 
be utilised as much as possible. I could find it in my 
heart to envy you. Miss Templeton.” 

Oh, how often I have said that !” chimed in Dinah. 
‘‘ I think I enjoy my sister’s voice as much as she does 
herself ; in the evening she always sings to me.” 

Mr. Herrick and Dinah are trying to make me vainer 
than I am by nature,” observed Elizabeth with her happy, 
childlike laugh, as Mr. Carlyon came to her side. “ Ced- 
ric, it is such a lovely evening that we might have our 
usual stroll. Would you care to come with us?” to Mal- 
colm. 

“ You may as well go my way,” remarked Mr. Carlyon, 
and Elizabeth nodded; and then Dinah fetched her a 
light gossamer scarf, which she tied over her head. 

“ Dinah does not care for moonlight rambles, she thinks 
them frivolous,” she observed, as they walked slowly 
through the dark woodlands, “ but Cedric and I love 
them. I like the silence and emptiness; the villages are 
asleep, and the whole world seems given up to fern-owls 
and bats and night-moths. Take care of the branch, Mr. 
Herrick, or you will knock your head. It will be lighter 
on the road outside. I am so used to this path that I think 
I could find my way blindfold.” 

The two young men were before them, but Elizabeth, 
to Malcolm’s relief, showed no inclination to join them; 


io6 


HERB OF GRACE 


even at this early stage of their acquaintance he experi- 
enced an odd desire to monopolise her society. He never 
felt more content with his surroundings. The tranquil- 
lity of the hour, the soft half-lights, the mystery of the 
long wide road, with two dark specks moving before them 
— all appealed to Malcolm’s artistic and romantic sense. 
“ It is a study in black and white,” he half murmured to 
himself ; but at that moment he was not thinking of the 
tall, black-robed woman beside him, with the shimmering 
white veil over her head. Nevertheless, when Elizabeth 
laughed, he understood her and laughed too. 

“ Mr. Herrick,” she said suddenly, and her voice be- 
came grave, I am so glad to have this opportunity of 
speaking to you alone — without my sister, I mean. For 
months — for nearly two years — I have longed to see you 
and thank you for what you have done for Cedric. No 
— do not stop” — for in his surprise Malcolm had paused 
in the act of crossing the road ; “ they are looking back, 
and I do not want them just now,” and here she waved 
her hand a little impatiently. “ We must follow them 
through that gate into the woodland path that leads to 
Rotherwood. It is so pretty in daylight. The moon will 
soon be rising, and then you will see it better.” 

Malcolm followed her meekly. When he stumbled over 
a concealed root, Elizabeth quietly put her hand on his 
arm to guide him. The firm, soft touch, the spontaneous 
kindness of the action, and her utter unconsciousness, 
gave him a positive thrill of pleasure. 

“ When one’s heart is full of gratitude to a person,” 
went on Elizabeth in the same grave, low tone, it is so 
difficult to find words. Mr. Herrick, I know all you did 
for our dear boy — I know everything.” Malcolm started. 
“ Cedric told me ; but of course we kept it from my 
sister.” 

“ My dear Miss Templeton,” began Malcolm in an em- 


WHAT THE FERN-OWL HEARD 107 

barrassed voice, for he was not prepared for this. But 
Elizabeth would not let him speak. 

“ You must let me have my innings,” she said, with a 
delicious laugh. “ I have pent up my feelings for nearly 
two years, and they must find vent. Mr. Herrick, you 
have been our benefactor — Dinah’s and mine as well as 
Cedric’s. When you held out your generous hand to a 
stranger — when you saved our poor boy from disgrace 
and a ruined career, you did far more than you 
thought ” 

“ Miss Templeton, for pity’s sake ” 

Please, please, let me finish,” a pressure of his arm 
emphasised her words ; '' it is so difficult for a woman 
to hold her tongue. Dinah knows nothing of all this ; 
we dare not tell her — it would break her heart. My sister 
is too good for this world ; you know what I mean Mr. 
Herrick — she believes too much in other people’s good- 
ness, and then when they disappoint her she is quite 
crushed.” 

I should have thought Miss Templeton’s nature an 
exceptionally happy one,” returned Malcolm. 

“ You are right,” and Elizabeth spoke with evident 
feeling ; “ but these bright, sunshiny natures have their 
hours of eclipse. Cedric is her special darling, the object 

of her tenderest care; if she only knew ” but here 

she paused, as though her emotions were too strong. 

“ My dear Miss Templeton” — Malcolm was determined 
to be heard now, he should not be suppressed and silenced 
any more — you are making far too much of the trifling 
service I was able to render to your brother. What was 
a small loan?” 

“ What was it ?” here Elizabeth struck in again ; “ it 
was, humanly speaking, life and salvation to a poor weak 
boy who was on the brink of despair; who was so des- 
perate, with trouble and misery, that he might have fallen 
deeper and deeper if a Good Samaritan had not passed 


io8 


HERB OF GRACE 


that way. He has told me since that the thought of 
Dinah’s unhappiness almost drove him crazy, and that he 
could not have answered for himself. Cedric is a dear 
lad, but he is not strong.” 

He has had his lesson. We all enter our kingdom of 
manhood through some tribulation, Miss Templeton.” 

“ Ah, true, but we would gladly spare our belongings 
such a painful experience. Mr. Herrick, they are waiting 
for us at the little gate, and I have only time to say one 
thing more. I offered to help Cedric repay his debt, but 
he refused. I am glad to say he absolutely refused; he 
wishes to do it all himself.” 

“ I think all the more of him,” was Malcolm’s answer ; 
“ a little self-denial will be good for Cedric. He has 
already paid the first instalment. Miss Templeton, in 
return for your confidence, I will be quite frank with 
you: I do not need the money, as far as that goes he is 
welcome to every penny, but for Cedric’s sake I thought 
it best to take it. I hope you will understand this.” 

“ I understand you perfectly, and I thank you from 
my heart for dealing so wisely with him ; but not another 
word — voices travel far in this clear silence — and they 
are just by.” Indeed, the next moment a voice hailed 
them. 

“ Hallo, you people,” shouted Cedric, “ have you been 
looking for glowworms or hunting moths? David is 
quite tired of waiting.” 

“ I am afraid we have dawdled,” observed Elizabeth 
briskly. “ Mr. Herrick and I were deep in conversation. 
I think we will not come any farther; I have done my 
lady’s mile, or thereabouts. Good-night, Mr. Carlyon, 

I shall be over at the school to-morrow morning ” 

but here Elizabeth dropped her voice, and Malcolm heard 
no more. 

She was rather silent when she joined them, and left 
the conversation to Cedric. More than once Malcolm 


WHAT THE FERN-OWL HEARD 109 


wondered what made her so thoughtful; but when they 
reached the house, and she bade him good-night in the 
hall, there was no coldness or abstraction in her beaming 
smile. 

‘‘If you sleep as well as you deserve ” she said ; 

but he chose to misunderstand her. 

“ I should be hag-ridden and tormented, I fear.” 

“ Oh no, you would have rosy visions of celestial 
bowers,” returned Elizabeth merrily. “ Now, Mike,” to 
the little dachshund, “ let us make tracks for the upper 
regions. Good-night, Cedric.” 

As Elizabeth paused at the foot of the staircase, Mal- 
colm thought what a splendid subject she would make 
for a picture. The soft draperies gave her a queenly 
aspect, and the white scarf that she still wore over her 
head lent her a mystic look; in her hand she carried a 
curious brass lamp of some antique design, and at her 
bosom were fastened, negligently, a great spray of crim- 
son roses. “ She looks like a St. Elizabeth in this dim 
lamplight,” he thought. “ Those red roses look like a 
dark stain on her breast. The figure, the turn of the 
head, is superb. If only Goliath could see her. Ah, now 
she has moved, and the illusion has gone — faded into thin 
air,” and then Malcolm smiled at his own conceit and 
fancy as he took up his chamber candlestick. 


CHAPTER XI 


A LITTLE EGOTISTICAL, PERHAPS” 

We always like those who admire us, but do not always like 
those whom we admire. — L a Rochefoucauld. 

Trifles make perfection, and perfection is no trifle. — Michael 
Angelo. 

The bedrooms at the Wood House opened on a wide 
corridor which extended the whole length of the house. 
It was known by the name of the Red Gallery, probably 
from the great stained-glass window through which the 
sunset glow filtered on summer evenings, and reflected 
purple and crimson stains on the tessellated pavement of 
the hall below. By some odd coincidence, a figure of the 
Thuringian queen St. Elizabeth was the subject of the 
window. Something in the figure and the pose of the 
crowned head of the saint reminded Malcolm of Elizabeth 
Templeton; but the meek beauty of the upturned face 
resembled Dinah. 

The gallery was carpeted, and comfortably furnished 
with easy-chairs and one or two oak settles; the walls 
were covered with pictures. On winter afternoons, when 
a great beech log burnt cheerily in the fireplace, it must 
have been a pleasant place for a twilight gossip before 
dressing for dinner. As the family was small, several 
of the bedrooms had never been used ; they were twelve 
in number, and an artist friend of the sisters had sug- 
gested that each chamber should bear the name of a 
month of the year. By a happy conceit which had greatly 
delighted them, he had with his own hand not only illu- 
minated the name, but had with exquisite taste painted 
a spray of flowers that were typical of each month. For 
no 


“A LITTLE EGOTISTICAL, PERHAPS” iii 


example, over Elizabeth’s door — June — hung a lovely 
cluster of crimson and white roses; while Dinah, who 
had appropriated September, had a cluster of blackberries 
and traveller’s joy. 

When Malcolm had taken possession of the guest-room 
— April — he had gazed admiringly at a festoon of pink 
apple-blossoms over his door, but when he had praised 
the novel adornment with his wonted enthusiasm, the 
sisters modestly disclaimed all credit. 

“ It was not our idea,” observed Elizabeth regretfully ; 

neither Dinah nor I had the genius to evolve it. It 
was our friend, Mr. Leon Power. You will know his 
name ; his ‘ Andromache’ was so much talked about last 
year.’” 

Of course, every one knows Leon Power,” returned 
Malcolm quickly. A friend of mine, Mr. Keston, quite 
swears by him.” 

“ We know Mr. Keston’s pictures well,” observed 
Dinah in her placid way. “ I hear he is to have Mr. 
Logan’s house for the summer, and then we shall have 
the pleasure of making his acquaintance. I assure you, 
Mr. Herrick, that it was all Mr. Power’s idea. He used 
to come down for a few days and paint a door at a time. 
We loved to sit in the gallery and watch him. You have 
no idea how it interested us.” 

When Elizabeth, still carrying her antique lamp, passed 
swiftly down the gallery, she paused as usual at her 
sister’s door. Dinah was sitting in a carved oak chair 
by the open window with a reading-lamp beside her. 
Her evening dress was replaced by a white muslin wrap- 
per, which made her look younger than ever. The red 
edges of the St. Thomas a Kempis that she had been 
reading was the only spot of colour about her. 

You are later than usual, dear,” she said gently. 

Did you go all the way to Rotherwood ?” 

'' In this garb ! My dear child, supposing I had met 


112 


HERB OF GRACE 


the vicar ! Oh no, we only walked to the usual trysting- 
place. Well, Dinah” — seating herself in a comfortable 
easy-chair beside her — what do you think of our new 
friend?” 

“ I was going to ask you that question,” returned her 
sister in a disappointed voice. “ I did so want to know 
your opinion ; but you are so dreadfully quick, Betty. 
Of course I like him ; he is very gentlemanly and agree- 
able, and I think clever.” 

“ Oh, I should say there was no doubt of his clever- 
ness.” Then Dinah brightened up as though she had 
received a personal compliment. 

‘‘ I am so glad you think so. The society of a clever, 
cultured man like Mr. Herrick must .be so good for 
Cedric; and then he is so pleasant, and has so much to 
say on every subject, and he has such original ideas. 
Really, poor dear Mr. Carlyon was quite cast into the 
shade this evening.” 

“ Oh, there I differ from you. Mr. Carlyon is original 
too, and can hold his own with any one;” and Elizabeth 
spoke with some warmth, almost with asperity, and her 
sister looked at her rather anxiously. 

Dear Betty, I meant no disparagement of Mr. Carl- 
yon. He is such a favourite with all of us that we are 
not likely to undervalue him. It struck me once or twice 
that he was not quite in his usual spirits.” 

“ He is a little worried about his father,” returned 
Elizabeth. “ He thinks Theo does not look after him 
properly. But we were talking about Mr. Herrick, were 
we not ?” 

Elizabeth was not quite herself. Something in Dinah’s 
speech had ruffled her. She was a little quick-tempered 
and impulsive ; but she soon recovered herself. 

“ Does it strike you. Die, that Mr. Herrick is quite 
aware of his own cleverness, and that he rather prides 
himself on being original and out of the common. Oh, 


“ A LITTLE EGOTISTICAL, PERHAPS’^ 113 

I mean nothing unkind,'’ as Dinah looked rather grave 
at this. “ I like him exceedingly. I should be an un- 
grateful wretch if I did not,” she added to herself. ‘‘ He 
is a good man, I am sure of that; and,” with a merry 
laugh, “ I am also sure that to know him will be a liberal 
education.” 

Though Dinah joined in the laugh, she was evidently 
discomposed by her sister’s observation. “ I am afraid 
you think him conceited,” she said regretfully. 

“ Oh dear, no ; a little egotistical, perhaps — I might 
even say a little opinionative ; but then we all have our 
faults, and I fancy he will improve greatly on acquaint- 
ance. When I know him better, Die, I shall delight in 
arguing with him. There is no use arguing with Mr. 
Carlyon, he always gives in to me at once ; but Mr. Her- 
rick would fight it out to the bitter end.” 

Dinah shook her head at this lukewarm praise. Eliza- 
beth’s opinion was of the utmost moment to her. She 
relied on it with a simple faith that astonished strangers. 
Malcolm was right in suspecting that the younger sister 
was the moving spirit of the house. Elizabeth’s vigorous 
mind, her clear insight, and strong common-sense, made 
her quick to judge and discriminate. As Dinah knew, 
she very seldom made a mistake in her opinion of a per- 
son. Dinah’s charitable nature was rather prone to over- 
estimate her friends and acquaintances — all her geese 
were swans.” As Elizabeth often said, when she cared 
for any one she simply could not see their faults. “ If 
we were all as blind as Dinah,” her sister would say, /' the 
world would be a happier place;” but all the same she 
loved and reverenced the simple goodness and sweetness 
that by a divine alchemy transmuted base metal into gold. 

Elizabeth was quite aware why Dinah shook her head 
so disapprovingly. Cedric’s hero had found favour in 
her eyes, and she wished her other self — for so she ten- 
derly termed Elizabeth — to do homage to him likewise; 

8 


HERB OF GRACE 


114 

but Elizabeth's gratitude and her wholesome liking were 
not disposed to hero-worship. ‘‘ Mr. Herrick was very 
nice, and a great acquisition, and she was quite sure they 
would soon be good friends;” and as Elizabeth always 
meant what she said, Dinah felt tolerably satisfied with 
this verdict. 

“ And now let me hear about Mr. Carlyon, Betty/’ she 
observed cheerfully. “I do hope his holiday was not 
spoiled by Theo's shiftless ways.” 

“ Oh, as to that,” returned Elizabeth impatiently, 
“ Theo will be Theo to the end of her days. It is a mys- 
tery to me how good people can be so aggravating. Her 
brother always declares that she is really a good woman.” 

“ I should certainly think he was right, dear.” 

“ Her goodness is rather microscopic then,” returned 
Elizabeth drily. Mr. Carlyon — our Mr. Carlyon, you 
know — told me that it fretted him sadly to see how his 
father’s little comforts were neglected. Theo puts her 
parochial work before her home duties. He said the 
meals were badly served and badly cooked; that Theo 
often came in late for dinner and took a hasty meal in her 
bonnet; that in the evening there was no sociality — his 
father wrote his sermons or buried himself in his books, 
and Theo worked at her accounts or dropped asleep from 
sheer fatigue on the couch.” 

“ Poor Mr. Carlyon, he deserves a better daughter ; 
but Theo has always been a restless, bustling sort of 
mortal. I suppose David — we really must call him David 
between ourselves, Betty, to distinguish him — I suppose 
he will have his father as usual in August ?” 

“ Oh dear, yes ; and Mrs. Pratt will lead them both a 
life. She always does; I never saw such a woman. 1 
mean to give her a bit of my mind one of these days.” 

“ She is almost as trying as Theo,” returned Dinah 
with a smile. “ I think David gives in to her too much 
for the sake of peace.” 


“A LITTLE EGOTISTICAL, PERHAPS” 115 

“ So I often tell him.” 

I wish Mr. Charrington would invite Mr. Carlyon 
to the vicarage. Mrs. Finch is such a comfortable soul : 
she thinks nothing a trouble. But I suppose such an idea 
would never enter the vicar’s head.” 

“ Oh dear, no. But after all it does not matter. Die ; 
nothing would induce Mr. Carlyon to leave his son’s roof. 
I do not believe that any amount of creature comforts or 
learned conversations would tempt him away from his 
boy. I think their affection for each other is one of the 
most touching things I know.” 

“ Indeed it is, Betty,” and Dinah looked at her sister 
rather wistfully; but Elizabeth was too much engrossed 
with her subject to notice her. 

“ David’s attachment to his father is quite beautiful,” 
she went on ; “ but I cannot help wondering over it some- 
times. He seems as proud of that shabby, mild-spoken 
little man as though he were a bishop in lawn sleeves, and 
not a broken-down, hard-working curate-in-charge, who 
preaches dull, dry little sermons.” 

“ But his life is his best sermon, Betty !” 

“ Ah, you are right there,” and Elizabeth’s beaming 
look was good to see. David sometimes tells me that 
his father’s patience with Theo is almost angelic. ‘ I 
don’t know how he bears it,’ he said once. ‘ I am not 
particular about food myself, and would dine cheerfully 
on bread and cheese any day ; but I hate a smoky chimney 
and dust; and really that Bridget of theirs is a terrible 
female, and one of the worst specimens of a maid-of-all- 
work that I ever knew. I took to dusting the place my- 
self, but Theo never noticed it.’ Well, well, it’s a queer 
world. Die. Now it is late and I am keeping you up,” 
and then the sisters kissed each other affectionately, and 
Elizabeth withdrew to her own room. 

Dinah sat still in her chair, and there was a thoughtful, 
almost a perplexed look on her face. 


ii6 


HERB OF GRACE 


“ I wish I could understand it,” she said to herself ; 
“ but in some things Betty is so reserved. People who 
only know her a little would never find it out. They 
persist that she is frankness itself, but there are limits 
that no one can overstep — even I dare not.” Here Dinah 
paused. “ But she knows very well that I should never 
ask her the question. 

“ All the same,” a moment later, “ I am sorely puzzled. 
Is it only a friendship between those two, or is it some- 
thing else on David Carlyon’s part ? Once or twice I have 
seen him looking at her as a man only looks at one 
woman. 

“ If I could venture to give her a hint, to beg her to 
be careful! Elizabeth is so careless. She has no idea 
of her own attractions, and how irresistible she can be. 
It is all very well for her to say she is older than David, 
and that she takes a sisterly interest in him because Theo 
is so unsatisfactory ; but there is no need to give him so 
much of her company. Oh, no need at all, and it will 
only make people talk.” And here the careful elder sister 
sighed as though she were oppressed with her responsi- 
bilities. 

“ Elizabeth is only thirty,” she went on. “ Why, that 
is quite young nowadays, and after all David is not more 
than three or four years younger. It is not the age that 
matters, or David’s poverty, for Betty has plenty of 
money of her own. But he is not good enough for her. 
She is such a grand creature — when she marries she 
ought to have a husband worthy of her — one whom she 
could honour and obey as well as love — a man of intellect 
and power.” Had a name suddenly occurred to Dinah, 
for as she rose hastily a girlish blush came to her cheek ? 
“ I am quite ashamed of myself,” she whispered. “ If 
there is one thing or person I detest it is a match-maker. 
How could such an idea come into my head !” But what- 
ever idea it was, Dinah soon banished it, and before long 


“A LITTLE EGOTISTICAL, PERHAPS” 117 

both the sisters were sleeping sweetly on their lavender- 
scented pillows. 

Malcolm saw little of his hostesses the next day. Eliza- 
beth spent the greater part of the day at Rotherwood, and 
Dinah was busy with her household duties. He and 
Cedric played tennis the most of the morning. Then they 
lounged about the garden and woodlands in their flannels, 
and chatted and smoked endless cigarettes, and after 
luncheon Cedric ordered out the dog-cart and showed his 
friend some of the beauties of the surrounding neighbour- 
hood. They drove back through Rotherwood, and as they 
turned the corner by the church they came upon Mr. Carl- 
yon. Malcolm did not recognise him at first in his straw 
hat, until he hailed them in a cheery voice. 

“ Hallo, Cedric, are you going to cut me ? Look here, 
my dear fellow, you and Mr. Herrick must have some tea 
at my digging. It is a few steps farther. The mare looks 
hot. Why don't you put her up at ' The Plough’ and 
let her have a feed and a rub down?” And as Cedric 
approved of this arrangement, Malcolm was obliged to 
acquiesce, though he was inwardly bored by the delay. 

They had been out for hours, and he was rather weary 
of the lad’s chatter. Some new acquaintances of the name 
of Jacobi had been the subject of Cedric’s talk — a brother 
and sister living in Gresham Gardens. It was in vain 
that Malcolm had repeated more than once that he knew 
nothing of them. Cedric would not take the hint, and he 
held forth on the brother’s cleverness and the sister’s 
beauty. To listen to the boy one might have thought the 
Jacobis were much above the average of human beings — 
that there must be something idyllic, angelic, and alto- 
gether seraphic in their persons and dispositions; but 
Malcolm, who knew his man, discounted largely from 
this, and kept his amusement and incredulity to himself. 

But the name of Jacobi palled on him at last, and he 
was counting the milestones between him and the Wood 


ii8 


HERB OF GRACE 


House rather anxiously, when they saw Mr. Carlyoii 
standing on the curb with his straw hat very much tilted 
over his eyes. 

No maiden lady of uncertain age loved her tea better 
than Malcolm. Nevertheless, the curate’s invitation did 
not please him. 

As he got down from the dog-cart he thought regret- 
fully of the cool, shady drawing-room at the Wood 
House, and the pretty tea-table with its silver urn and 
old-fashioned china. Cedric was so thoughtless. Of 
course his sisters would be expecting them. Carlyon 
seemed a pleasant fellow, but he was not sure that he 
desired a closer acquaintance with him. Malcolm was 
inclined to be a little distant, but neither of his com- 
panions seemed to notice it. A low white cottage, stand- 
ing back in a shady little garden, was their destination. 
As Mr. Carlyon unlatched the gate, Cedric said in an 
audible aside^ — 

“ It is not washing-day, is it, David ? I hope Mother 
Pratt has her kettle boiling, for Herrick and I are as 
thirsty as fish.” 

“ My dear fellow, I have no idea,” and Mr. Carlyon 
looked a little alarmed. “ Just look after Mr. Herrick 
for a few minutes while I tackle the good lady.” 

“ I don’t believe Mrs. Pratt will bring the tea-things 
for another half-hour,” observed Cedric cheerfull}^ 
“ Poor old Davie, it is awful hard lines for him to have 
such a landlady. She imposes on him shamefully.” 

Why does he put up with it ?” returned Malcolm 
drily. He was not in the humour to discuss Mr. Carlyon’s 
household arrangements. The room into which Cedric 
had ushered him was a very pleasant one. It was rather 
low, but a side window with a cushioned recess looked 
out on a small lawn, with beautifully-kept flower-beds 
and long borders filled with old-fashioned herbaceous 
flowers, where brown bees were humming in the sunshine. 


“A LITTLE EGOTISTICAL, PERHAPS” 119 


“ Mrs. Pratt evidently keeps a good gardener,” he said, 
as he took note of the neatly-shaven and carefully-swept 
paths. 

“ David is the gardener,” returned Cedric laughing. 
“ The garden is his hobby. He is at work sometimes at 
six o’clock in the morning. It is rather a good garden, 
as you see ; but when David first came to the White Cot- 
tage it was a perfect wilderness. A lone widder woman 
cannot be expected to attend to house and garden too,” 
he continued in a lackadaisical voice. “ Hallo, Davy, 
what cheer, my lad? Are the fates propitious?” 

“ Not exactly,” in a depressed tone. “ I am afraid it 
is washing-day, and that Mrs. Pratt will keep us waiting. 
I filled the kettle for her myself, but it has got to boil; 
but if you don’t mind waiting ” in a still more em- 

barrassed manner. 

“ What’s the matter, good friends ?” observed a cheerv 
voice. “ Can I be of any use and assistance ? I am not 
afraid of a dozen Mrs. Pratts. May I join your tea-party, 
Mr. Carlyon? I was just going to ask Mrs. Finch for a 
cup, but as I passed I saw Cedric at the window,” and 
before any could answer Elizabeth had advanced into the 
room with a smile that seemed to evoke responsive smiles 
on every face. 

Thank goodness ! Bet,” exclaimed her brother de- 
voutly ; we shall get along now.” 

Oh yes, we shall get along,” and Elizabeth took off 
her hat and hastily smoothed her hair. “ Now for the 
Pratt woman and tea. Au revoir, gentlemen.” And then 
she vanished, and after a moment’s hesitation Mr. Carl- 
yon followed her. 


CHAPTER XII 

MR. CARLYON'S tea-party 

If there be a smile on our lips, those around us will soon smile ; 
and our happiness will become the truer and deeper as we see 
that these others are happy. — Maeterlinck. 

Smiles are as catching as tears. — Maeterlinck. 

What a sudden change in the atmosphere! If a fresh 
moorland breeze had swept through the little sitting-room 
at the White Cottage it could not have effected a more 
beneficial change. 

A few words from a brisk, cheerful young woman had 
acted like magic; Mr. Carlyon lost his harassed look, 
Malcolm’s bored expression had vanished, while Cedric’s 
fervent “ Thank goodness 1 Bet, we shall get along now,” 
was inwardly echoed by his friends. 

Malcolm’s good-humour returned, and he gave his un- 
divided attention to the flower-borders, and enlarged in 
his poetical way on the beauties of the Iceland and Shir- 
ley poppies. 

“ They are like fine court ladies,” he observed to Cedric, 
“ they are so smart and dainty and graceful. What a 
charming combination of colour! Your friend Carlyon 
must have an artistic eye.” 

“ I expect it was Elizabeth’s idea,” returned Cedric 
lazily ; “ she is quite gone on poppies. She and David 
are rival gardeners, and have no end of discussions. My 
word, to listen to them one would think they were a later 
edition of Adam and Eve.” 

Now, why did Malcolm frown at this boyish speech, 
and drop the subject hastily? But Cedric only stretched 
himself with a yawn and went on — 

120 


MR. CARLYON’S TEA-PARTY 


I2I 


“ It is my private opinion that David knows very little 
about it, except what he gets from gardening books. But 
he is so full of hobbies, and so energetic, and so deter- 
mined not to be beaten, and takes such a lot of trouble, 
that even Elizabeth is astonished at the results. She 
comes down here and gives him ideas, and then he works 
them out, or he potters about our place and talks to John- 
son, and gets hints that way. 

I never saw such a fellow for picking other people’s 
brains,” continued Cedric enthusiastically. “ Why, he got 
a splendid degree at Oxford ; I remember how surprised 
his own father was.” 

“ Carlyon has a father then?” Though Malcolm was 
so lukewarm on the subject of the young curate’s merits, 
he felt some degree of curiosity about him. 

To be sure he has,” replied Cedric. Carlyon senior 
is a dry, chippy sort of little man, as meek as a mouse and 
as good as gold. He is curate-in-charge of an iron church 
at Stokeley; it is in the Black Country, you know — a 
regular inferno of a place — nothing but tall chimneys 
and blasting furnaces, heaps of slag and rows of miners’ 
cottages. Stokeley town is a mile or two farther on ; 
it is a beastly sort of hole.” 

It does not sound an inviting spot certainly.” 

“ Well, it is not exactly a Garden of Eden,” returned 
Cedric with a grin. But, as David says, it has its 
advantages, for one can wear out one’s old clothes quite 
comfortably. I believe there is really beautiful country 
two or three miles away.” 

“ I suppose Mr. Carlyon’s mother is living too ?” But 
here Cedric shook his head. 

No, she died when David was a youngster — con- 
sumption, I believe — and two or three of the children 
died too. But there is one daughter, Theo they call her 
— for Theodora, I expect — and a precious uncomfortable 
piece of goods she is.” 


122 


HERB OF GRACE 


Malcolm raised his eyebrows in a questioning manner, 
but Cedric needed no encouragement to rattle on. 

“ She is a young woman with a mission — a sort of 
female Moody and Sankey rolled in one — and she calls 
herself the Miner’s Friend. She is so full of good works, 
don’t you know, that she has not time for domestic 
duties; and so Carlyon pere and Carl yon frere have a 
roughish time of it.” 

Malcolm’s thoughts instinctively reverted to his 
mother. With all her work and philanthropic schemes, 
she was never too busy to see to her household. She might 
neglect her own personal comfort and overtask her will- 
ing helper Anna, but her servants did their duty, and were 
well fed and well managed ; and they worked all the bet- 
ter for the knowledge that their mistress’s keen eyes 
would detect the slightest laxity. “ My mother is a good 
woman,” he said to himself ; “ she is true and just in all 
her dealings,” and he felt with a sudden pang of re- 
morse as though he had never valued her enough. 

“Is Miss Carlyon like her brother in appearance?” 
he asked the next minute. 

“ Not a bit ; she would make two of David. She is a 
big, red-haired woman, not exactly bad-looking — if she 
would only set herself off. But the Carlyons have a 
family failing, they cling to their old clothes and eschew 
fashion. Hush, here comes Mother Pratt with the tea- 
tray. Look at her well, Herrick, she is a good imitation 
of the immortal Mrs. Gummidge, and bears a mortified 
exterior, out of compliment to the late Samuel Pratt, sex- 
ton and grave-digger and parochial Jack-of-all-trades.” 

The bumping sounds in the distance that Cedric had 
heard had drawn nearer, and the next moment a tall, 
angular woman in a black hat, and a suspicion of soap- 
suds freshly dried about her bare arms, entered the room 
and set down the tea-tray with a heavy sigh, as though 
the burden of life were too hard to bear. 


MR. CARLYON’S TEA-PARTY 


123 


Mr. Carlyon followed her with a crusty loaf and the 
butter, while Elizabeth brought up the rear triumphantly 
with a plate of raspberries and a little brown jug of cream. 

“ Is there anything more you’ll be needing, sir?” asked 
Mrs. Pratt lugubriously — she spoke in an injured man- 
ner. “ If it had not been washing-day I would have baked 
you a currant-loaf, or some scones ; but having only two 
hands, and no chick or child to help me, and ” 

“ Oh, we shall do very nicely,” returned Elizabeth 
cheerfully. “ Please do not let us hinder you, Mrs. 
Pratt; if you will keep the water boiling we can easily 
replenish the teapot. Mr. Carlyon,” looking at him 
severely, “ you have left the sifted sugar on the kitchen 
table ; please go and fetch it. Mr. Herrick, are you fond 
of raspberries? These are from our own garden — John- 
son gathered them this morning.” 

” They are just prime!” exclaimed Cedric — food for 
the Olympian gods, ambrosia and nectar too. Come 
along, David, or there will be none left for you. Sit 
down, man, no one wants you to be waiting on us.” 

“ Yes, do sit down, please,” observed Elizabeth softly ; 
and Mr. Carlyon slipped at once into the empty chair 
beside her. 

It really was a pleasant little tea-party, and Malcolm 
quite forgot his longing to be back in the drawing-room 
at the Wood Plouse. Indeed, he was in high good- 
humour, and told his best stories, quite convulsing Mr. 
Carlyon with his comic ones; indeed, he made himself 
so agreeable and entertaining — he so threw himself into 
the spirit of their informal picnic — that Elizabeth’s bright 
eyes rested on his dark face more than once with marked 
approval. And when they went out into the front garden 
to wait for the dog-cart, Mr. Carlyon said to her con- 
fidentially, “ Your friend improves on acquaintance ; I 
thought him a bit stand-offish and highty-tighty yester- 
day, but I see now it was only mannerism.” 


124 


HERB OF GRACE 


“ Some people are difficult to know at first,” returned 
Elizabeth thoughtfully, but she also spoke in a lowered 
tone. “ Mr. Herrick is not one of those people who keep 
all their goods in their shop window ; there is plenty more 
of good stuff inside, if you only take the trouble to search 
for it. Dinah likes him immensely; she is getting an 
empty pedestal ready for him — you know my dear old 
Dinah’s way, bless her.” And as David knew it well, 
his answer was a merry laugh. 

Never had Malcolm enjoyed himself more; never had 
he felt less disposed to criticise and find fault ; and yet 
Miss Elizabeth Templeton wore the very striped blouse 
that had excited his ire on the previous evening ; and her 
hat was certainly bent in the brim, perhaps in her frantic 
efforts to put up a straggling lock of brown hair that had 
escaped from the coil, and which would perpetually get 
loose again. Malcolm noticed at once the ripe, rich tint 
of the brown. “ It is the real thing,” he said to himself, 
“ it is the burnished brown of the horse-chestnut ; one 
seldom sees it, it is quite out of the common.” And then 
he told himself that he had never seen a face so capable 
of expression. Perhaps this was why he watched her so 
closely when she talked to Mr. Carlyon. 

It was arranged that Elizabeth should drive back with 
them in the dog-cart. And as Malcolm took the reins, 
which Cedric had relinquished in his favour, she mounted 
to the place beside him, while Cedric clambered up behind. 
Mr. Carlyon looked after them regretfully as Elizabeth 
waved gaily to him. The next moment she was pointing 
out the vicarage to Malcolm, a gray, picturesque-looking 
house, standing in a pleasant garden. 

“ It is not really the vicarage,” she explained, “ al- 
though it goes by the name. It used to belong to old 
Colonel Trelawney; but when he died and Mrs. Tre- 
lawney left Rotherwood, Mr. Charrington took it. It is 
not large, but quite the right size for an old bachelor. 


MR. CARLYON’S TEA-PARTY 


125 


He has really a grand library, and a very good dining- 
room, though the drawing-room is rather a dull room. 
Ah, there is the vicar,” and Elizabeth smiled and bowed 
to a tall, gray-haired man who was just letting himself 
in at the gate. 

“ Wait a moment, please, Mr. Herrick,” she exclaimed 
hurriedly. “ I quite forgot I had a message from Dinah 
and then, as she sprang lightly to the ground, Mr. Char- 
rington turned back to meet her, and they stood talking 
for a few minutes. 

“ Hurry up, Bet, or we shall be late for dinner,” called 
out Cedric, impatient at this delay. Then Elizabeth 
looked up and nodded. 

‘‘ Just one moment more,” she said breathlessly. 
“ Dinah will not mind our being late.” 

Malcolm did not mind it either. He sat contentedly 
flicking the flies from Brown Becky’s glossy sides and 
listening to the distant cawing of rooks. 

What a peaceful, drowsy sort of place Rotherwood 
was ! The wide village street seemed empty, with the ex- 
ception of a black collie lying asleep in the middle of the 
road, and a patient donkey belonging to a travelling 
tinker. The clean, sleek country sparrows were enjoying 
a dust bath, and a long-legged chicken — evidently a 
straggler from the brood — was pecking fitfully at a cab- 
bage stalk, unmindful of the alarmed clucking of the 
maternal hen. 

When Elizabeth rejoined them the vicar was with her, 
and she introduced him to Malcolm. 

Mr. Charrington had been a handsome man in his 
youth; but a sedentary life and a somewhat injudicious 
burning of the midnight oil had tried his constitution. 
He had grown pale and thin, and his shoulders were 
slightly round, so that he looked older than his years. 
Malcolm thought Cedric’s name of Dr. Dryasdust was not 
an inapt title. His eyes were a little sunken, though very 


126 


HERB OF GRACE 


bright and keen, and his manner was extremely courteous. 
He spoke very civilly to Malcolm. 

“Mr. Charrington is hardly my idea of a country 
vicar,” he observed as they drove away. 

Perhaps not,” returned Elizabeth quickly, “ but he is 
a Very conscientious clergyman, and his people's welfare 
is very near his heart. He is a great etymologist and 
archaeologist, and at times he is so immersed in his studies 
that but for the care of his excellent housekeeper, Mrs. 
Finch, he would often forget to eat his dinner. Mr. Carl- 
yon often tells us amusing stories of the vicar’s absence 
of mind.” 

“ Could you not remeq^er one of them, 3etty?” sug- 
gested Cedric. But ElizaDeth was not to be cajoled into 
repeating them. She respected Mr. Charrington far too 
highly, she remarked, to make merry at his expense. 
“ My friends’ oddities are always sacred to me,” she said 
quite seriously. “ Most people have their own little fail- 
ings and idiosyncrasies, but one need not make copy out 
of them. Don’t you agree with me, Mr. Herrick, that 
there is too little sense of honour in these matters? To 
raise a laugh, or to sharpen their own wit, many people 
will expose their best friend to ridicule.” 

“ Oh, shut up, Betty,” remonstrated her brother, “ it 
is too bad to moralise; and after all old Dr. Dryasdust 
is a capital subject for sport.” 

“ Perhaps so, but all the same your sister is right,” 
returned Malcolm. “We are a little thoughtless, as she 
says. We ought to refuse to give our tongue such licence 
when a friend’s crochets and whimsies are in question. 
It is the easiest thing in the world to satirise and cari- 
cature. You could poke fun at Milton or Shakespeare 
if you liked, and make them utterly ridiculous. Don’t 
you hate parodies. Miss Templeton? To me they are 
utterly profane and detestable, and the cleverer they are 
the more I abhor them.” 


MR. CARLYON'S TEA-PARTY 


127 


“ We think alike there,” returned Elizabeth eagerly. 

I remember that Cedric read such capital parodies once 
on ‘ Excelsior’ and ‘ Locksley Hall,’ and I have never 
been able to enjoy those poems since. I have utterly 
refused to listen to any more. Oh,” interrupting herself, 
” there is Dinah on the look-out for us.” 

They caught sight of the trim little figure in gray silk 
waiting for them in the porch. But if they had been 
an hour late Dinah would have greeted them with the 
same kind smile, and hoped that they were not tired. 

That evening they sat out on the tetrace again ; but 
to Malcolm’s chagrin and disappointment, Elizabeth de- 
clared that her long day at Rotherwood had deprived her 
of all voice for singing. ‘‘ I have been shouting to the 
children all the morning,” she observed, “ and reading 
to deaf old women all the afternoon, and my vocal chord 
has suffered,” and then she challenged Cedric to take a 
stroll with her ; but to Malcolm’s vexation the invitation 
was not extended to him. “ Dinah has been alone, we 
must not all leave her,” she said so pointedly that he had 
no choice in the matter. But he was secretly chafed by 
this treatment, for Malcolm was one of those men who 
object to be managed. “ I wonder, if Carlyon had been 
in my place, if my Lady Elizabeth would have ordered 
him to remain behind,” he thought. But Dinah’s first 
words healed this soreness. 

My sister has kindly made this opportunity for me 
by taking Cedric off our hands,” she said gently. “ She 
knew that I wanted a little talk with you about him.” 
Then Malcolm’s brief sullenness vanished. 

“ You shall talk to me as much as you like,” he said in 
the most cordial manner, and indeed he felt very kindly 
towards this gentle, simple-minded creature. “ I am 
ready for any amount of conversation on any subject from 
' cabbages to kings.’ ” Then she smiled well pleased at 
his little joke. 


128 


HERB OF GRACE 


“ I wanted to ask you about these new friends of 
Cedric’s/’ she began. “ He seems so full of them, and 
neither Elizabeth nor I know anything about them. My 
sister, who is certainly not at all a narrow-minded person, 
has taken a most singular prejudice against them.” 

“Do you mean the Jacobis? My dear Miss Temple- 
ton, I am sorry to say that I have never met them.” Then 
Dinah’s face fell. “ It is not surprising, of course, that 
many of Cedric’s friends are unknown to me, for we 
move in very different circles. He has been raving about 
the Jacobis all the afternoon; but all the same I don’t 
seem to focus them properly.” 

“ Cedric is going to stay with them next month,” ob- 
served Dinah. “ They have taken a house at Henley for 
some weeks. He is very much excited about it ; he is so 
fond of boating. And he declares they will have such a 
pleasant house-party ; but,” rather anxiously, “ I do wish 
we could find some one who knew them.” 

“ I should not be surprised if Mrs. Godfrey had come 
across them. She knows everybody.” Dinah looked at 
him in surprise. 

“ Do you mean Mrs. Godfrey of the Manor House, 
near Cookham ?” she asked — “ Colonel Godfrey’s wife ?” 
Malcolm nodded assent. 

“ Do you know her too ? What a small world this is 
after all ! Mrs. Godfrey is a great friend of mine. We 
hit it off capitally on most subjects. In my opinion she is 
the cleverest and pleasantest woman in London.” Then 
Dinah fairly beamed. 

“ I am so glad you like her. She is a great favourite 
of ours. Elizabeth often stays at the Manor House. 
They get .on splendidly together. And the Colonel is 
so charming. Oh, Mr. Herrick, I am relieved that 
you mentioned them. Henley is not far from Cookham, 
and I should think they must know something of the 
Jacobis.” 


MR. CARLYON’S TEA-PARTY 


129 


I will ask Mrs. Godfrey directly I see her/’ he re- 
turned. “ I am going to the Manor House next week.” 

Next week!” in surprise; “ I hoped you would have 
stayed with us for ten days at least.” 

“ You are very kind,” in a tone of regret, “ but, my 
dear lady, I fear it is utterly impossible. My engagement 
with the Godfreys is of long standing, but I shall only 
remain at the Manor House three or four days. My 
regular holiday comes later.” 

“ I suppose you have already made your plans ?” in a 
friendly tone. 

“ Yes, I have decided not to go abroad this year. I 
have some literary work I do not wish to lay aside, and I 
think of taking up my quarters at the Crow’s Nest, where 
I can combine country air and work.” 

“ Then you will be our neighbour,” and Dinah’s voice 
expressed such satisfaction at the prospect that Malcolm 
felt quite pleased. “ What a pity Cedric will be away 
most of August — the dear boy has so many engagements.” 
But Malcolm, who was extremely truthful, did not en- 
dorse this regret. Cedric was a nice enough fellow, he 
thought, but he did not always know when he was not 
wanted, and at times his lively chatter was a weariness 
to the flesh. 

I expect I shall see something of him,” was all he 
could bring himself to say. But you may depend on 
me for getting information about the Jacobis. I am a 
little curious myself on the subject,” he added with the 
frankness that was natural to him ; and then, as the sound 
of approaching footsteps reached them, they mutually 
dropped the subject. 




9 


CHAPTER XIII 

THE crow’s nest 

Take the little pleasures of life, watch the sunsets and the 
clouds, the shadows in the streets and the misty light over our 
great cities. These bring joy by the way, and thankfulness to our 
Heavenly Father. — Anne T. Clough. 

In a certain sense all are historians. — Carlyle. 

Perhaps Elizabeth’s conscience pricked her that night, 
or more probably, being rather a casual and careless 
young woman, a gentle hint from Dinah may have had 
its effect. 

Dinah had merely remarked in her quiet way, when 
she was bidding her sister good-night in the Red Gallery, 
that she feared they were not doing enough for their 
guest’s amusement, and that she thought they had better 
ask the vicar to dinner. 

Mr. Herrick is a literary man, and they will get on 
very well together,” she observed. Don’t you think so, 
Betty ?” And as Elizabeth did think so, and had no objec- 
tion to offer, Dinah said that Johnson should take a note 
round the following morning. 

Elizabeth felt a twinge of compunction as she closed 
her bedroom door; she was by no means given to intro- 
spection, but conscience, that makes cowards of us all,’^ 
told her that she had not been quite gracious to Mr. Her- 
rick that evening. 

“ It was too bad of me not to sing to him,” she said to 
herself, as she recalled his disappointed look. I was 
not so very tired after all ; it was just a fit of laziness, 

and ” but here Elizabeth checked herself abruptly — 

self-examination is sometimes embarrassing. 

“ I will try and make up for it to-morrow,” she 
130 


THE CROW’S NEST 


131 

thought ; “ he is such a good fellow, and we owe him so 
much and she’ was still in this complaisant mood when 
she came down to breakfast. 

Even her outward garb was improved : she wore a fresh 
and extremely becoming morning dress, which set off her 
fine figure to advantage ; and before Malcolm had tasted 
his coffee or looked at his letters she was challenging 
him gaily to a game of tennis. 

Malcolm was charmed — he had no idea that she played 
tennis; but her next proposition rather took off the edge 
of his enjoyment. 

“ I know you are a good player, Mr. Herrick,” she re- 
marked coolly, “ but it would be too great an exertion 
this warm weather for you to beat Cedric and me. Would 
it not be a good plan,” turning to her brother, “ for you 
to go over to the White Cottage on your bicycle and ask 
Mr. Carlyon to make the fourth? We should have a 
much better game.” 

“ But we decided to ask Mr. Charrington to dinner, 
Betty,” remonstrated her sister. Then Cedric looked dis- 
gusted, and muttered something under his breath about 
old Dr. Dryasdust spoiling the fun, but Elizabeth put him 
down with a strong hand. 

“ People’s notions of fun differ,” she said severely. “ I 
am quite sure that the vicar and Mr. Herrick will have 
many interests in common. As for Mr. Carlyon,” with 
a sudden change of tone, “ he and Mr. Charrington are 
such good friends that they dine together two or three 
times a week, so there is no objection on that score. Well, 
Cedric,” with an amused look at his bored expression, 
‘‘ do you feel equal to the exertion of bicycling over to 
Rotherwood, or shall Johnson go?” 

'' I suppose I can do the job,” returned Cedric in a 
grumbling tone. “ You may as well give me the vicarage 
note too. Die.” But Dinah, distressed by her darling’s 
ill-humour, followed him out into the hall to explain mat- 
ters more fully. 


132 


HERB OF GRACE 


“ You must not be cross about it, dear,” she said, with 
tender anxiety in her tone. You see we are bound to 
entertain a visitor like Mr. Herrick; he is not just an 
insignificant person.” Cedric’s brow cleared. He is a 
clever man, and it will be a compliment to ask a dis- 
tinguished scholar like Mr. Charrington to meet him. If 
the Logans had been here we should have invited them.” 

Cedric felt a little ashamed of himself. ‘‘ I daresay 
you are right,” he said grudgingly, but it will be so 
precious slow. Well, I’m off. Look after Herrick while 
I am gone,” with a fine assumption of manly dignity. 
But he need not have troubled himself; Malcolm was not 
disposed to miss him in the least. 

As for Elizabeth, her flow of benevolence was not dry 
yet. “ I heard you tell Dinah last night that you wanted 
to look over the Crow’s Nest,” she observed to Malcolm 
as they rose from the breakfast table, “ if you have no 
letters to write we might stroll down there now.” 

“ Oh, my letters will keep,” he returned, with such evi- 
dent pleasure at the proposition that Elizabeth went off 
in search of her hat ; not the hat with the battered brim, 
mark you, but a charming hat with cream-coloured lace 
and delicious yellow poppies, that seemed to match the 
dewy freshness of the morning, and which would not dis- 
grace the gentleman from London; and although she 
wore no gloves — Elizabeth always drew the line at gloves 
— her Indian silk sunshade was worthy of Bond Street. 
As the Crow’s Nest was within sight of the gates of the 
Wood House, they very soon accomplished the distance. 

It was a homely little place enough, andAhe Kestons 
had described it pretty accurately. It was a mere cottage, 
and not a picturesque one either, for the architecture left 
much to be desired ; but the row of trees that divided it 
from the road, amongst which shone the red berries of 
the rowans, and the trim, shady lawn, gave it a secluded 
and pleasant aspect. 

The sitting-room was small but cosy, and there was a 


THE CROW’S NEST 


133 


fair-sized dining-room ; l)ut Malcolm at once took a 
fancy to a small upper room with a window overlookimj 
the road ; it had evidently been used as a dressing-room, 
for there was a gentleman’s wardrobe in it, and a writing- 
table and easy-chair. 

“ I must coax Verity into giving me this room,” he 
said half to himself; but Elizabeth heard him. 

'‘Verity! is that Mrs. Keston?” she asked. “What 
a very original name I I do not believe I ever heard it 
before.” 

“ I daresay not, but it just suits her. Yea- Verily, as 
her husband calls her.” Then Elizabeth looked extremely 
amused. 

‘'What a droll idea! Your friends seem rather out 
of the common, Mr. Herrick. I am quite impatient to 
make their acquaintance. We have a large circle of 
friends — an inner and an outer circle — but I am always 
glad to add to the number.” 

“ I think you will like Verity,” he returned seriously; 
“ she is such a genuine little soul, and so fresh and origi- 
nal. Oh, I am quite sure you will take to her.” Malcolm 
spoke in such a decided manner, as though it were a fore- 
gone conclusion that Verity would be admitted to the 
privileged inner circle, that Elizabeth’s curiosity was 
strongly excited. 

“ You seem rather certain of the fact,” she said per- 
versely ; “ but, as my sister would tell you, I am not so 
easily pleased after all.” 

“ Nevertheless you will like Verity,” he returned 
quickly. “ Like attracts like — a transparent, truthful na- 
ture, which is absolutely without guile, will not fail to 
appeal to you; I already know you well enough to pre- 
dict that with certainty.” 

Elizabeth turned this speech off with a laugh, but her 
colour rose at the implied compliment ; if like attracts like, 
as Mr. Herrick said, he must think her original and guile- 
less too. Something in Malcolm’s tone — in the expression 


134 


HERB OF GRACE 


of his dark eyes — confirmed this impression, and in spite 
of her stateliness and thirty years the second Miss Tem- 
pleton felt a little shy. 

“We have not seen the garden-room yet,” she said 
hastily, and then she led the tvay downstairs. 

The garden lay on the side of the house, and was well 
kept and full of flowers; but the temporary building 
erected by Mr. Logan rather spoiled the view from the 
back of the house, though a gay flower-border sur- 
rounded it. 

Elizabeth, who had procured the key from the servant, 
now opened the door. 

It was rather a bare-looking place, as Verity had said ; 
more of a workshop than a studio, though it was used for 
both purposes, and, as both of them knew, good work 
had been done there; but Mr. Logan, who had a fine 
studio in town, was content with rather a primitive state 
of things in his country cottage. 

It was sufficiently large, though part of it was par- 
titioned off as a bedroom ; the partition, for the sake of 
airiness, was only eight or nine feet high, and the furni- 
ture was of the plainest description; a white Indian 
matting covered the floor, and there were pink Madras 
curtains at the window. As Elizabeth pointed out, it 
could not have been closed for months, for actually beau- 
tiful clusters of roses had not only festooned the casement, 
but had found their way into the room, and hung their 
sweet heads over the sill, as though they were trying to 
reach the floor. 

Malcolm declared himself quite enchanted; he had 
never seen any place he liked better. There was room 
for his big bath — his tub he called it mentally — and a 
comfortable chair or two, and when he had concluded 
these little arrangements to his own satisfaction, he joined 
Elizabeth, who was making friends with a great sandy 
cat, who rejoiced in the doubtful name of Old Tom. 


THE CROW’S NEST 


135 


“ I am glad you are so pleased,” she said in quite an 
interested tone, as they walked down the road again. I 
hardly expected that you would be so easily satisfied. 
Cedric calls the Crow’s Nest a wretched little hole.” 

” Oh, he is so young, Miss Templeton — he is at the age 
when one has great expectations ; we learn to moderate 
and alter our ideas as we grow older. Don’t you remem- 
ber Carmen Sylva’s charming description of youth and 
age ? I like it so much.” 

Elizabeth shook her head. I am afraid I do not read 
enough,” she said rather sadly. But he looked at her 
very kindly. 

” She is one of the wisest and wittiest of women,” he 
returned ; ” and she is your namesake too.” 

Oh yes, I know that.” 

“ When I go back to town may I send you her little 
book — Thoughts of a Queen it is called?” 

Elizabeth, after a moment’s hesitation, thanked him 
and said she would be glad to see it. 

” It is well worth your perusal,” he went on, too much 
engrossed by his subject to notice her hesitating manner. 
“ But I have not given you her definition of youth.” 

' In youth,’ she remarks, ^ one is a mediaeval castle, 
with hidden nooks, secret chambers, mysterious galleries, 
trenches, and ramparts ; one becomes afterwards a 
modern mansion, rich, morocco-leathered, elegant, stylish, 
and only open to the select; and ultimately a great hall 
open to the whole world, a market, a museum, or a 
cathedral.’ ” 

‘‘ I think I know what she means,” returned Elizabeth 
thoughtfully. “ Youth is so fond of mysteries, and all 
its castles have endless winding galleries, that lead to all 
sorts of curious nooks and corners. When we grow older 
our horizon widens — we care more for utility and less 
for subterranean passages. What could be better than a 
market, where one sells one’s best and most durable goods 
pro bono publico T 


HERB OF GRACE 


136 

Malcolm was delighted with this answer. Miss Eliza- 
beth Templeton might not be a profound student of books, 
but she was certainly an intelligent and sympathetic 
woman. They had turned into the woodlands by this 
time, and Elizabeth, who was determined to entertain 
their guest to the best of her ability, proposed that they 
should stroll down to the Pool. 

“If you will go on, I will just fetch my work,” she ob- 
served, “ and tell Dinah where we are going, and then 
Cedric will join us. He ought to have been back by now.” 
Then Malcolm, in high good-humour, sauntered over the 
rustic bridge and amused himself by looking down on 
Elizabeth’s wild garden. 

“ Oh, Betty, what a pity to wear your pretty new hat !” 
exclaimed Dinah, looking up from her accounts. She 
was rather a martinet on the subject of dress, and had 
funny little old-fashioned notions of her own; but Eliza- 
beth, who was ten years younger, was more up-to-date. 

“ It was part of the programme,” she returned 
solemnly ; “ and the sunshade too. I was determined to 
make myself as nice as possible. Remember, I trimmed 
it myself. Die, and as I had the materials it only cost me 
five shillings.” Here she took it off and looked at it 
admiringly, for Elizabeth was rather fond of dress in her 
way. “ My sailor hat will do for the Pool. I wish you 
could come with us, dear.” Then, as Dinah shook her 
head, “ Yes, I see, you are busy, so I will not bother you. 
Please tell Cedric where we have gone.” 

Malcolm was still on the little bridge when Elizabeth 
rejoined him. He looked regretfully at the sailor hat. 

“ It does not suit her a bit,” he thought. “ I wonder 
a sensible woman like Miss Templeton does not know 
what becomes her. Anna would never have made such 
a mistake.” But Elizabeth, unconscious of this criticism 
of her offending head-gear, walked on serenely. 

Some of the dogs had followed them, and while Eliza- 
beth worked at a piece of beautiful embroidery, Malcolm 


THE CROW’S NEST 


137 


amused himself with throwing sticks into the pond for 
their delectation ; and as soon as he was weary of the 
sport, he stretched himself comfortably on the ground 
beside her and began to talk. How it came about neither 
of them knew, but all at once Malcolm fell to speaking 
of his father, and of his lonely boyhood, and by-and-bye, 
Elizabeth grew so interested that she laid down her work, 
and propping her chin on her hand, gave him her un- 
divided attention. 

Malcolm was very unreserved about his mother. “ She 
is perfectly unique,” he said ; a grand worker, with 
brains and energy that, if she had been a man, would 
have qualified her for a legislator. She has a gift for 
organisation. Oh, you would admire her immensely. 
You are a worker yourself. Miss Templeton, and that 
would be a bond of union.” 

“Would it?” she returned quietly. “I am not quite 
so sure of that. I think your mother would rather look 
down on my small efforts. Please do not call me a 
worker, Mr. Herrick. I potter about the village two days 
in the week, and teach the children needlework, and tell 
them stories, and read to a bedridden old woman or two, 
but I am afraid on the whole I waste my time dreadfully,” 
and here she looked at him with one of her beaming 
smiles. “ I do so enjoy my life, especially in summer — 
the world is so beautiful, and one has the birds and 
flowers, and it is just lovely to wake to another new day.” 

“ I wish Anna could hear you,” he returned ; and as 
she looked a little puzzled at this, he explained that his 
mother had an adopted daughter — a dear, lovable girl, 
whom he regarded as a sister. And when he said this 
Elizabeth’s bright eyes glanced at him a little keenly. 

“ She is your adopted sister,” she said dubiously ; “ is 
that not rather a difficult relationship, Mr. Herrick?” 

“ Not at all,” he returned quickly, for somehow this 
remark did not quite please him. “ Anna was so young 


138 


HERB OF GRACE 


when she came to us, I think sometimes that she quite 
forgets that she is not really my mother’s daughter.” 

“ She must be a great comfort to Mrs. Herrick,” ob- 
served Elizabeth, “ especially as you are not always with 
her.” There was nothing in this speech to offend Mal- 
colm’s amour propre, nevertheless a dull flush mounted to 
his brow. 

“ Of course I should not have left my mother alone,” 
he said so stiffly that Elizabeth opened her eyes rather 
widely; but her keen woman’s wits soon grasped the 
situation. 

“ My dear Mr. Herrick, you must not misunderstand 
me,” she said quite gently. I am quite sure that you are 
backward in no filial duty. To tell you the truth,” colour- 
ing a little, ‘‘ I hardly liked to show you how thoroughly I 
comprehended things — your home has never been a real 
home to you, and though you love each other dearly, you 
and your mother are really happier apart. How can two 
walk together unless they are agreed?” 

“ Thank you for saying this,” he returned gratefully ; 
“ I am sure you mean what you say.” 

“ Most certainly I do.” 

‘‘ I know it — I am sure of it ; you are not one of those 
people who are afraid to speak the truth. Forgive me if I 
seemed put out for a moment, but something in your 
manner made me think that you disapproved of the step I 
had taken.” 

Mr. Herrick, I disapprove — a mere acquaintance who 
has not even seen your mother !” 

“ Ah, it is you who misunderstand now,” in a reproach- 
ful voice. “ Even a mere acquaintance,” dwelling on the 
word rather pointedly, can judge pretty correctly of a 
man’s circumstances. I thought you were saying to your- 
self, ‘ Mr. Herrick must be a selfish sort of man ; he is the 
only son of a widowed mother, and he has left her roof 
because her charitable works bore him to extinction.’ ” 
No— oh, no !” in a shocked voice. “ How can you say 


THE CROW’S NEST 


139 


such dreadful things ? I shall begin to be afraid of you ; 
and I have never been afraid of man, woman, or child in 
my life. Shall I tell you of what I was really thinking 
when you turned on me in that crushing manner? I was 
thinking of that poor dear girl, and how dull and moped 
she must be. Mr. Herrick/’ rather shyly — Elizabeth never 
looked more charming or more irresistible than when she 
put on this soft, appealing manner — “ do you suppose 
Miss Sheldon would care to stay with us while you are at 
the Crow’s Nest. We should so like to have her. You 
see,” her voice softening still more, “ you have done so* 
much for us that we want to make some return, and it 
would be such a pleasure.” 

You are very kind,” he returned, and indeed he was 
so surprised and touched by this unexpected speech that 
he hardly knew how to express his sense of her thought- 
fulness. “ It is good of you to think of it, and nothing 
would have given Anna greater pleasure, but ” 

“ You mean she has some other engagement this 
summer ?” 

“Yes; it is a great pity. My mother has taken rooms 
at Whitby for the middle of next month, and she never 
goes anywhere without Anna.” 

“ Then it cannot be helped; another time perhaps we 
shall be more fortunate.” And then, as though she were 
desirous of changing the subject, Elizabeth began talking 
of her own and Dinah’s movements, how they never went 
away in the spring and summer except for a week or so 
in town for shopping and picture-galleries, but filled the 
Wood House with relays of guests. 

“ For the last three years we have gone abroad in the 
middle of October, and returned for Christmas and the 
New Year,” she finished, “ but we have made up our 
minds to remain in England this year. Why, here comes 
the truant, and it is actually nearly luncheon time.” 

Cedric, flushed and panting, flung himself down beside 
her. 


CHAPTER XIV 


“ YOU DO SAY SUCH ODD THINGS^’ 

Womanhood should be the consecration of earth. — U. A. 
Taylor. 

In the region of domestic affections a new and ennobling 
motive came from Bethlehem — “ that I may please God.” — Knox 
Little. 

Elizabeth put on an air of great severity as she re- 
garded the culprit. 

“ Rotherwood is about a mile and a quarter from our 
gate/’ she observed, apostrophising some midges that 
were dancing in a sunbeam overhead. “You could walk 
there easily in twenty minutes. It is now one o’clock, and 
you have been away exactly three hours and a half,” and 
here she consulted the miniature watch that she wore as 
an ornament as well as for utility. “ If it be not imperti- 
nent, may we inquire why you have absented yourself 
the whole morning?” 

“ Oh, shut up. Bet,” returned her brother impatiently. 
“ Sarcasm is not your style at all. It is like killing a 
grasshopper with a pair of iron-heeled clogs. It is 
precious heavy, I can tell you.” 

“ You rude, unmannerly boy,” and here Elizabeth at- 
tempted to pull his hair, but she might as well have tried 
her prentice hand on a young convict freshly shorn by the 
prison barber. 

“ Hands off, Betty, I tell you,” returned the graceless 
lad. “ I have had rather a good time of it. I knew Her- 
rick was getting pretty sick of me.” Here Cedric rolled 
over on his back, and tilted his straw hat over his eyes. 
“ Familiarity breeds contempt and all that sort of thing. 

140 


“ YOU DO SAY SUCH ODD THINGS’’ 141 

Conversation is like a salad, isn’t it, Herrick? — you may 
have plenty of green stuff and oil, but it wants pepper 
and a dash of vinegar too.” 

“Why don't you box his ears. Miss Templeton? He 
is getting positively abusive.” 

“ I prefer pepper to oil,” she returned calmly. “ Well, 
Cedric, perhaps you will kindly inform me if your mission 
has been successful.” 

“ Oh, it is all right. David will be here to tea, but he 
says it will not be cool enough to play until nearly five. 
Now, don’t go tugging at my coat-collar, or I won’t say 
another word.” Elizabeth, with a resigned expression, 
folded up her work. “ I left the vicarage note,” con- 
tinued Cedric, mollified by this submission. “ Mr. Char- 
rington was engaged, but Mrs. Finch brought me his 
message — his kind regards to Miss Templeton, and he 
would have much pleasure in dining at the Wood House 
to-night.” 

“ Did you tell Dinah?” 

“ Do I not always do my duty ?” rather sententiously. 
“ Well, before I could get to the White Cottage I met old 
David. He was going to the church to practise on the 
organ, and he was a bit bothered because he could not get 
any one to blow, so, being a good-natured chap, I volun- 
teered.” 

“ Cod'd boy,” observed Elizabeth softly. 

“ Well, there we were for pretty nearly an hour and a 
half — David perched up like a glorified cherubim, and 
rolling out music by the yard ; and there was I grinding 
away like a saintly nigger in a beastly hole till I could 
stand it no longer, and told him I must chuck it. He 
declared he had quite forgotten me.” 

“ I expect he had. Mr. Carlyon plays the organ so 
beautifully” — Elizabeth was addressing Malcolm now. 
“ My sister and I often go into the church to listen to 
him.” 


142 


HERB OF GRACE 


“ It must be a great resource,” he returned regretfully, 
“ and I am inclined to envy Carlyon. I am passionately 
fond of music myself, but the power of expression has 
been denied me.” 

“ I would back David against most organists,” went on 
Cedric. “ Well, as I was pretty much used up by my ex- 
ertions, he proposed we should go into the vicarage gar- 
den and help ourselves to fruit. The greengages were 
ripe and so were the mulberries, and you bet I did not 
need pressing. 

“ Mrs. Finch saw us from the porch room, and sent us 
out some cider and home-make cake, so we had a rattling 
good feed. David said he was in a loafing mood, and 
would not hear of my hurrying away.” 

Mr. Carlyon does not seem overworked,” remarked 
Malcolm ; but he regretted his speech when he saw Eliza- 
beth’s heightened colour. 

Thursday is a slack day with him,” she said rather 
gravely. “ I assure you he works harder than most 
clergymen, and is very conscientious and painstaking. 
He is not at all strong, but he never spares himself.” 

“ My hasty speech meant nothing,” returned Malcolm 
smiling. “ Mr. Carlyon is certainly no loafer — ^he looks 
the incarnation of energy.” 

“ How doth the little busy D 

Improve each shining hour,” 

chanted Cedric. But Elizabeth would stand no more 
nonsense. She called to the dogs, and warned their guest 
that the gong would sound in five minutes, and then 
marched off with her sailor hat slung on her arm, which 
she filled on her way to the house with Canterbury bells 
and blue larkspur. 

The game of tennis was a great success. Dinah sat in 
the shade and watched them. 

There was some little difficulty in choosing partners. 


" YOU DO SAY SUCH ODD THINGS” 143 

so Cedric said they must toss up for it, and Elizabeth fell 
to Mr. Carlyon. 

If Malcolm felt secretly disappointed, no one guessed 
it. To his surprise he and Cedric were ruthlessly beaten. 

Mr. Carlyon played a masterly game, and Elizabeth 
ably seconded him. Malcolm, who had always held his 
own on the tennis green, and was an excellent golf 
player, was much chagrined at his defeat. They had 
lost three successive games, when Cedric flung up his 
racket and declared he could play no more. 

“ They have given us a regular beating, mate,” he said 
cheerfully. “ You were in capital form, Herrick, and I 
did not do so badly myself, though I say it as shouldn’t ; 
but David has taken the shine out of us. I say, old fel- 
low, you ought to be champion player.” 

” I think Miss Templeton played a good game,” re- 
turned David modestly, and then he and Cedric went off 
to hunt for missing balls, and Elizabeth sauntered to the 
house. Half an hour later she was just putting the finish- 
ing touches to her dress when Dinah tapped at the door, 
and, as Elizabeth gave her a welcoming smile, sat down 
by the toilet table. It was one of Dinah’s homely, 
pleasant little ways, but these few minutes of sisterly chat 
would have been sorely missed by both of- them. 

“ How nice you look, dear !” in an admiring voice. 
Then Elizabeth glanced at herself with her head a little 
on one side. 

‘‘ Do I ?” she said simply. “ I was afraid I should 
never regain my normal colour. Are you sure I don’t 
look rather blowsy, and like a milkmaid?” But Dinah 
indignantly repudiated this ; it was Dinah’s private belief 
that Elizabeth was a very beautiful woman. “ She has 
such lovely eyes, and then her face has so much expres- 
sion,” she would say; but Dinah had the good sense to 
keep this opinion to herself. 

Elizabeth, who was not at all vain, and was quite con- 


144 


HERB OF GRACE 


scious of her own defects, continued to gaze at her own 
reflection rather critically. 

“ I suppose on the whole I am passable, Die,” she said 
rather philosophically. “ When people like me they seem 
to like my looks; and really when you think of all the 
plain and downright ugly people in the world, there is 
surely room for thankfulness.” 

“ Have you just found that out, Betty?” 

“ My dear Die, I am rather in a humble frame of mind 
just now. Don’t you recollect my telling you Mrs. Robin- 
son’s speech last Monday. I have never thought quite so 
much of myself since.” 

“If I remember rightly, Mrs. Robinson paid you a 
compliment. She told Miss Clarkson that she wished 
Selina were as fine a woman as Elizabeth Templeton.” 

“ And you call that compliment !” and Elizabeth arched 
her long full throat in rather a haughty and swanlike 
manner. “ Fancy that goose of a Miss Clarkson repeating 
such a speech. A fine woman is my abhorrence. It 
always seems to me to rank in the same category with a 
prime turkey or a prize bullock, or something ready for 
the market.” 

“ My dear Betty, you do say such odd things !” 

“Of course ! do. Elizabeth is nothing if she is not 
original. Don’t you remember dear old dad’s speech? 
But I am really serious. Die — you know I never coveted 
beauty.” 

“ No, nor I, dear,” and Dinah spoke quite earnestly. 

“ Oh, you,” returned Elizabeth with playful tenderness. 
“ I should hope not. I expect many women would be 
glad to change with you, you sweet thing.” Then Dinah 
smiled and patted her sister’s hand. 

“ No, Betty, you must not say that. I have often 
thought that even our poor faces, with all their defects, 
ought to be sacred to us. If we are a thought of God, 
as some one has beautifully put it, surely the stamp of 
His handiwork must be precious to us.” 


YOU DO SAY SUCH ODD THINGS’’ 145 


But how about the marred and ugly faces, Die ?” and 
Elizabeth looked at her dubiously. 

“ It is their cross,” returned Dinah simply — a heavy 
cross perhaps, but when I see a very plain, unattractive 
woman I do so long to whisper in her ear — 

Don’t trouble about it, poor thing. What does it 
matter? You will be beautiful one day, and even now, 
if you are good and patient, the angels will think you 
lovely.’ Dear me, Betty,” interrupting herself, “ why are 
you creasing my pretty silk dress.” 

“ Lord love you, miss, I am only a-feeling for your 
wings,” returned Elizabeth in a droll voice, and then they 
both laughed, for this was a standing joke between them 
ever since Dinah had repeated poor old Becky Brent’s 
speech, when the wrinkled hand of the blind and doited 
old creature had fumbled about her shapely shoul- 
ders. 

Dinah had been right in thinking that the vicar and 
Mr. Herrick would have much in common, and the con- 
versation at the dinner-table that evening was unusually 
animated. 

She and Elizabeth were attentive listeners, and on com- 
paring notes afterwards both of them owned that they 
had been struck with Mr. Herrick’s intelligence and 
broad-minded views. 

The slight egotism that Elizabeth had detected seemed 
to drop from him like a veil, and he showed his true 
nature; he was evidently a patient and reverent searcher 
after knowledge, and his marked deference to the elder 
scholar became him greatly. Dinah quite glowed _with 
innocent pleasure as she listened to them. It is so sel- 
dom the dear vicar gets any one to talk on his favourite 
subjects, but one could see that Mr. Herrick is after his 
own heart,” she remarked, as they sat on the terrace 
drinking their coffee and waiting for the gentlemen to 
join them. 

10 


146 


HERB OF GRACE 


He is certainly very clever,” observed Elizabeth 
thoughtfully. 

“ David was unusually quiet,” went on Dinah ; but 
her sister apparently did not hear this, for she went on 
talking about the advantage of a more varied reading. 

“ I am such an ignoramus,” she continued, “ when 
those men were talking about the MSS. in that old un- 
known monastery, I felt like a little goggle-eyed charity- 
school girl. When I get Mr. Herrick alone I mean to ask 
him about the Behistun Inscription ;” and then Mr. Carl- 
yon strolled towards them, followed by Cedric, and Eliza- 
beth, who had finished her coffee, advanced towards them. 

“ They are still at it tooth and nail,” observed David 
in an amused tone. I should have stopped to listen to 
them, only this fellow was so sick of the discussion. 
What a well-informed chap Herrick is !” 

So Dinah and I were saying,” remarked Elizabeth, 
as they paced slowly down the terrace. “ Why were you 
so silent?” she continued; “ you know a good deal about 
these subjects too.” 

Who ? I ! My dear Miss Elizabeth, you are quite 
mistaken. Ask the vicar, and he will tell you that I am 
really a duffer in these matters. It is a wise child who 
knows his own father, and I am wise enough to know 
my own ignorance. Don’t you know,” with a smile, “ it 
is easier to hold one’s tongue and listen in an intelligent 
manner than flounder about out of one’s depth among the 
billows of cuneiform inscriptions and the insurmountable 
precipice of the Behistun Rock.” 

“ Why do you undervalue yourself so?” returned Eliza- 
beth gently ; “ don’t you know people take us at our own 
value? I have got it into my head that you and Mr. 
Herrick do not quite take to each other — woman’s eyes 
are rather sharp, you know.” But Mr. Carlyon turned 
this off with a laugh. 

Oh, we hit it off all right,” he replied ; please don’t 


YOU DO SAY SUCH ODD THINGS” 147 


go and take fancies in your head. He has his innings 
now, but we got the best of him this afternoon.” Eliza- 
beth’s merry answering laugh reached Malcolm’s ears, 
and made him lose the drift of the vicar’s argument. 

But he lost it still more, and became increasingly 
absent-minded, when a few minutes later he heard her 
rich, full tones in his favourite song, Loving, yet leav- 
ing.” Mr. Charrington noticed it at last. The siren is 
too much for you, Mr. Herrick,” he said pleasantly ; we 
will resume our discussion another time,” and to this 
Malcolm cheerfully assented. 

Did Elizabeth perceive the dark figure that glided in at 
the open window and settled itself so comfortably in the 
easy-chair? If she were conscious of the silent auditor, 
she made no sign. 

Never had her voice been sweeter and truer ; never had 
she sung with such birdlike clearness, with such abandon 
and pleasure. Now and then a whispered word from 
David made her exchange one song for another, or a 
low-toned “ bravo” from the same source greeted some 
special favourite. 

Elizabeth was in the mood for singing. She was a 
creature of moods and tenses, and would probably have 
gone on carolling blissfully for another hour if the vicar 
had not interrupted them. 

“ It is getting late, Carlyon, and we may as well walk 
back together,” he remarked in his leisurely manner, for 
being an old bachelor he was rather precise in his ways. 
David jumped up at once. 

I will go with you, sir, of course,” he replied quickly. 
Then in a lower voice, It is a lovely evening — will you 
do your lady’s mile?” He spoke so low that Malcolm 
could only guess at what he said ; but Elizabeth’s answer 
was quite clear and audible. 

No, not to-night; I think I have exerted myself suffi- 
ciently. But I daresay Mr. Herrick and Cedric will go.” 


148 


HERB OF GRACE 


And Malcolm, who felt himself dismissed and had no 
excuse to offer, was soon plunged into an argument again 
that lasted all the way to Rotherwood. 

“ Betty, did you notice that Mr. Herrick did not want 
to go ?” asked Dinah, who was always keenly alive to the 
likes and dislikes of her neighbours. “ It was naughty of 
you to put him in such a position. How could he refuse 
to go when the vicar was waiting for him?” 

‘‘ I thought a walk would do him good,” returned 
Elizabeth demurely ; “ he was almost asleep when Mr. 
Charrington spoke to us. A comfortable chair, and moon- 
light, and a German lullaby are soporific influences.” 

“ Nonsense, Betty,” replied Dinah in her practical, 
downright way, he was as wide-awake as I was ; but,” 
with a little sigh of sympathy, “ he looked rather sad. 
Are you sure he is quite happy, dear ?” 

I expect he is quite as happy as he deserves to be,” 
returned Elizabeth in rather a hard-hearted way; and 
then she went off, singing to herself in a low tone a line 
or two from her last song: 

“ It may be in the Land above — 

The Land beyond our ken; 

Yet we shall meet again, my love, 

Though none can answer when.” 

And as Dinah stood listening in the moonlight her face 
looked like the face of a radiant infant. 

“ That is so true,” she whispered, and what does it 
matter — when !” 


CHAPTER XV 


BETTY IS A TRUMP I’l 

A character is like an acrostic or Alexandrian stanza ; read it 
forward, backward, or across, it still spells the same thing. . . . 
We pass for what we are: character teaches above our wills. — 
Emerson. 

It had been Malcolm’s intention to go back to town on 
the ensuing Monday, but on Dinah’s pressing invitation 
he promised to remain another day. 

“ You know I am due at the Manor House on Thurs- 
day,” he observed, as they sat at breakfast the next morn- 
ing, “ and I must have a couple of days in town first.” 

It is a very short visit,” she returned regretfully, 
‘‘ and you are to dine at the vicarage to-morrow evening.” 

“ I could not get out of it,” he replied quickly, but he 
glanced at Elizabeth as he spoke. “ Mr. Charrington 
never gave me the option of refusing. He seemed to 
look on it as a foregone conclusion that his invitation 
would be accepted. He was so very kind and cordial. 
He wants me to see his library, and to show me some 
rare books he has got.’^ 

“ Oh yes, he is a collector of curious books and first 
editions. He has a very valuable library. It is his hobby 
— is it not, Dinah? Old books, old wine, and plenty of 
learned talk — you will be in luck’s way, Mr. Herrick,” 
and Elizabeth flashed an amused look at him. 

I suppose Mr. Carlyon will be there,” observed Dinah 
composedly, as she replenished Malcolm’s cup. Cedric 
had not yet made his appearance, but they could hear him 
whistling in the distance. But before Malcolm could 
answer in the negative, Elizabeth broke in again. 

“ You are wrong there. Die ; Mr. Carlyon never goes 

149 


HERB OF GRACE 


150 

out on Saturday evenings. It is his day for writing his 
sermon, and I have never known him break his rule. 
Mr. Charrington wishes to have Mr. Herrick to himself. 
He,” with another smile, knows two are company and 
three are none. Well, good people, I must not dawdle 
this morning, as there is so much to do;” and as Eliza- 
beth rose from the table she gave her sister a meaning 
glance, and Dinah, who was like wax in Elizabeth’s 
hands, took the hint at once. 

“We are so glad you have made up your mind to stay 
until Tuesday,” she said cordially, “ for we are asking 
some people to come over for tennis on Monday after- 
noon. Elizabeth has gone off to write the note's now.” 
“ Why on earth could she not have said so ?” thought 
Malcolm, with secret irritation. But Dinah went on 
cheerfully — 

“ It will be only an informal affair ; there is no time to 
arrange a regular garden-party. We will keep that until 
you take up your quarters at the Crow’s Nest. We gen- 
erally have one big affair before the summer is over, 
and then our friends come down from town, and we have 
to commandeer all the carriages in the place to meet the 
train. Elizabeth calls it ‘ The Templeton’s Bean-feast.’ ” 

“ Yes, I see,” and Malcolm forced a smile at the little 
joke. 

“ This will be a very different function,” continued 
Dinah. “We are only asking about five-and-twenty peo- 
ple. We shall have tea in the hall — it is the coolest place 
in this weather — and there will be two or three sets of 
tennis, and croquet for those who like it. It was all 
Elizabeth’s plan. You have no idea what a talent she has 
for organisation — she almost takes my breath away some- 
times. She planned everything last night and had the list 
ready for me when I went to bid her good-night.” 

“ That accounts for the light in the Red Gallery when 
Cedric and I came in,” remarked Malcolm. 


BETTY IS A TRUMP! 


“ Yes, we were dreadfully late ; but Elizabeth was so 
wide-awake that I was quite ashamed of my own drowsi- 
ness. I think we shall get a pleasant party together.” 
And as Cedric came in at that moment, Dinah retailed 
their little plan for his benefit. Cedric was delighted, and 
voted Betty a brick. Any form of sociability was wel- 
come to him — an impromptu garden-party in Malcolm’s 
honour met with his decided approval. 

“ David must give us our revenge,” he said, chuckling 
with glee at the idea. But Malcolm did not respond to 
this. 

He felt inwardly provoked at the whole affair, and re- 
gretted that he had promised to remain another day. 
Could not Miss Elizabeth have guessed — pshaw! what 
an ass he was, how was she to know ? — that a motley and 
miscellaneous collection of people was his distinct aver- 
sion ! A rustic Olla podrida, an Omnium- gatherum was 
not to his taste. It was his last evening too, and he would 
have to make himself pleasant to strangers. 

He knew what these impromptu garden-parties meant. 
People drove over from distant villages and expected to 
remain late. There would be no dinner, no coffee on the 
terrace, no songs in the dimly-lighted drawing-room. Ah, 
just so, was not Cedric endorsing his thought at this very 
moment ? 

“ Betty is a trump. Die! She has thought of just the 
right people. I suppose we shall have a scratch meal 
when the rush has gone. But we must ask the Brent 
girls to have a snack with us.” 

Oh, of course, Elizabeth said so at once, and she 
mentioned the Ross party too. Tina and Patty will ex- 
pect to remain — they always do, and they think the drive 
back by moonlight the best part of the fun. Very well, 
Cedric dear, you will go over on your bicycle and leave 
the notes?” 

“ Well, I don’t mind taking trouble in a good cause,” 


152 


HERB OF GRACE 


he returned in a virtuous tone; and then Dinah, with 
an air of great satisfaction, addressed herself to her guest. 

I wonder if you would care to drive Elizabeth over to 
Earlsfield this afternoon; she has a good many com- 
missions to execute. Brookes has to wait for the vet, as 
one of our carriage horses is lame, and I do not like her 
to go alone with James.” But Malcolm carefully dis- 
guised his pleasure at this unexpected request. 

“ Is this Miss Elizabeth’s idea too ?” His tone rather 
puzzled Dinah. 

“ Oh dear, no — at least, I think not. I rather fancy 
I suggested it to her.” 

“And she made no objection?” 

“ My dear Mr. Herrick, of course not. She will be only 
too grateful to you. James is a good lad, but we dare not 
trust him with Brown Becky, and though Elizabeth drives 
very well, she wants to be free for her business.” 

“ Then in that case I shall be delighted to go,” and 
there was no fault to be found with Malcolm’s tone now. 
His satisfaction was hardly diminished by a hair’s-breath 
when Cedric suggested that they might go round by 
Rotherwood on their way home and give David a verbal 
invitation. “ He might be engaged if we waited until 

to-morrow,” he said seriously ; “ the busy D is 

rather a popular person, and the young ladies of Earls- 
held and Staplegrove are always on the look-out for him.” 

“ You would not dare to say that if Elizabeth were’ in 
the room,” but Dinah spoke quite innocently and had 
no arriere pensee. 

“ I know that Betty monopolises him to any extent,” 
retorted Cedric, “ and it is a shame when that poor little 
Tina ” 

Then Dinah quite flushed up and said quickly, “ Hush, 
how can you be so silly, Cedric. Tina is a perfect baby. 
Who cares what a foolish little flirting thing says about 
Elizabeth! You ought not to repeat such speeches.” 


BETTY IS A TRUMP!” 


153 


“ There is always so much gossip in a village,” ob- 
served Malcolm, with a laudable intention of casting oil 
on the troubled waters, for he saw that Dinah was really 
vexed at Cedric’s careless speech ; “ and an unmarried 
curate is always rather an attraction to some genus of 
young ladies.” 

“ Mr. Carlyon never encouraged them,” returned Dinah 
quietly. “ The fact is, Mr. Herrick, Tina Ross is rather a 
mischievous little person. She is very pretty and very 
much spoilt, and she cares far too much for admiration. 
My sister used to be very fond of her — she was quite 
a favourite at one time; but the other day she owned 
that she was greatly disappointed in her, and that she 
was afraid Tina was rather an empty-headed little 
thing.” 

Oh yes, we understand that, don’t we, Betty ?” re- 
torted Cedric, nodding at Elizabeth knowingly as she 
entered the room. “ Tina is in your black books now.” 
But Elizabeth received this with perfect serenity. 

“ Oh, she is an amusing child/’ she returned carelessly, 
“ but she makes a very common mistake. She thinks a 
pretty face and a flippant tongue and a childish manner 
are perfectly irresistible, but in her study of mankind she 
is certainly an unlessoned girl.” 

“ I think old David admires her,” observed Cedric 
casually. He spoke in such a matter-of-fact way that 
Elizabeth was quite taken in. 

“ To be sure he admires her,” she said seriously. 

How can he help it ? Even Mr. Herrick — who, I have 
been told, is really a severe critic on female beauty — 
will admire her too when he sees her on Monday. You 
shall have an introduction,” with a mischievous look. 
“ We will not allow Mr. Carlyon to monopolise her.” 
Here they both stared at 'her. “ Tina is an old friend of 
his. Now then, Cedric lad, if you have finished your 
breakfast, I want you in the morning-room.” 


154 


HERB OF GRACE 


“ One moment, please,” and Malcolm barred her way. 

I believe I am to drive you over to Earlsfield this after- 
noon.” 

“ Dinah has arranged it then,” with rather an inscru- 
table little smile. “ Thank you, it will be very kind, and I 
know it will be a relief to her mind.” But she added 
hastily, “ There is no use in our going round by Rother- 
wood. We can post Mr. Carlyon’s note. If there is time 
we might go on the Downs — you will like that much 
better,” and then Elizabeth gave him a friendly little 
nod. 

Malcolm enjoyed his afternoon. Brown Becky was in 
excellent form, and it gave him a great deal of pleasure 
to drive her; and then Elizabeth was so sociable and so 
altogether charming. He had glanced more than once 
at the paper she held in her hands. “ Are you going to 
order all these things ?” he asked, and she had laughed in 
his face. 

'' Five-and-twenty to thirty people to entertain is rather 
a large order. We have plenty of cider and fruit, and of 
course there will be claret cup, but we have no time to 
make cakes — besides, there must be a cold collation for at 
least a dozen.” 

“ Oh yes, I understand,” he returned good-humouredly ; 
but he was secretly surprised by the quickness with which 
her commissions were executed. Evidently the ladies of 
the Wood House were people of consideration to the 
tradesmen of Earlsfield, for obsequious shopmen stood 
bowing and smiling on the threshold; and was it his 
fancy, or was there an added stateliness in the second 
Miss Templeton’s step and carriage as she threaded the 
pretty little market-place, exchanging greetings with 
every other person she met? 

''Now I have finished,” she observed presently, " and 
you and Brown Becky have behaved like a couple of 
angels.” Then she chanted merrily, " Oh, who will o’er 


‘‘BETTY IS A TRUMP!’’ 155 

the downs with me?” and Malcolm turned the mare’s 
head in the direction she pointed out. 

It had been very hot in the market-place, but when they 
had gained the open down a honey-sweet wind blew re- 
freshingly in their faces, and not only the moorland but 
the roadside was clothed with the purpling heather. Mal- 
colm checked the mare involuntarily, and sat silently 
feasting his eyes on the glorious colouring before him. 

“No Tyrian garment could equal that,” he said half to 
himself. 

Elizabeth looked at him curiously. 

“ I thought you would like it,” she returned, well 
pleased by his rapt admiration of her favourite view. 

“ Like it I I only wish I had Keston here ; but if I 
am a living man I will bring him and Verity too. What 
a grand old world it is after all. Miss Templeton, though 
we do our best to spoil it.” 

“ Ah, you are right there,” and Elizabeth’s voice was a 
little sad. 

“ Don’t you remember what Clough says ?” continued 
Malcolm quietly : 

‘ The work-day burden of dull life 
About the footsore flags of a weary world.’ 

We all have our pedlar’s pack to carry through Vanity 
Fair; but how good for us to turn aside into some of 
Nature’s holy places which she keeps so fair and sweet 
and untainted, and to take a long draught of the elixir 
of life I” 

“Mr. Herrick, do you ever write poetry?” Malcolm 
shook his head. 

“ No,” he said regretfully. “ One day, if you care to 
hear it, I will tell you the story of an impotent genius.” 

“ An impotent genius ?” It was evident that Elizabeth 
was puzzled, but then she had only known Malcolm Her- 
rick five days. 


HERB OF GRACE 


156 

Malcolm nodded gravely. The story of a man who 
was halt and maimed and crippled from his birth — a 
tongue-tied poet and a paralysed artist. The story is a 
sad one, Miss Templeton, but it will keep.’’ 

Elizabeth’s eyes danced with amusement. She began 
to have an idea of his meaning. 

“ I rather think you are a humourist, Mr. Herrick.” 
And then Malcolm laughed, and after that they fell into 
quite an interesting conversation. Elizabeth turned the 
subject to her own ignorance, and begged Malcolm to 
tell her what books she ought to read. 

“ Dinah puts me to shame,” she observed frankly. 
“ She reads all the best books, and she often tries to 
persuade me to follow her example. The fact is, I am 
rather a desultory sort of person, and I have so many in- 
teresting occupations that I never know what to do first.” 

“ One must always have a little method in one’s daily 
life,” returned Malcolm indulgently. “ How would you 
like me to make you out a list ? You might slip any books 
you did not want to read.” 

Then Elizabeth thanked him quite gratefully. 

“ I mean to turn over a new leaf on my thirty-first 
birthday,” she continued serenely. “ Isn’t it a great age, 
Mr. Herrick?” 

But Malcolm only smiled in answer. He was think- 
ing how strange it seemed that she was actually his 
senior by two years ; but he soon grasped the idea that 
Elizabeth Templeton was one of those women who grow 
old slowly, and who are sweetest in their ripened prime. 

The evening at the vicarage passed very pleasantly, 
and when Malcolm took his leave he was much surprised 
at the lateness of the hour, and sorely disturbed when he 
found Dinah sitting up for him. But she would not listen 
to his excuses. 

“ An hour later does not matter to me, and I was read- 
ing and quite forgot the time. I am so glad you have 


BETTY IS A TRUMP r 157 

enjoyed yourself,” and Dinah dismissed him with her 
gentle smile. 

Malcolm was rather disappointed with the vicar’s ser- 
mon the next day. It was learned, and full of quotations 
from the Fathers, but he could not but perceive that it 
was perfectly unsuited to a village congregation. “ Can 
these dry bones live?” he thought, as they came out into 
the sunny churchyard. 

Mr. Carlyon had read the service. His manner had 
been extremely reverent and devout, but Malcolm found 
his delivery unpleasing. The peculiarity in his speech 
was very noticeable in the reading-desk, and there was 
no clearness of articulation. 

I am not versed in phonology,” he said reluctantly, 
when Elizabeth asked him a little anxiously about Mr. 
Carlyon’s reading, “ but I know you would not have 
questioned me if you did not want to know my real 
opinion. I think it is rather a pity that Mr. Carlyon has 
not taken elocution lessons.” 

“ You are quite right,” she returned quietly. “ I can 
assure you that he is fully aware of his deficiencies.” 

I am not sure that he has not some physical difficulties 
to surmount,” went on Malcolm ; “ but however that 
may be, a course of elocution and some sound advice 
about the management of the voice would have been of 
immense value. I have always thought that every young 
man who intends to take holy orders should be com- 
pelled to attend elocution classes as part of the training. 
You will not think me too critical in saying all this?” 

But Elizabeth, with evident sincerity, assured him that 
she perfectly agreed with him. 

They all spent the afternoon down at the Pool, and 
Malcolm read aloud to the sisters, while Cedric and the 
dogs enjoyed a nap. When he had finished the poem-r- 
it was Browning’s Christmas and Easter Eve he had been 
reading — Dinah thanked him with tears in her eyes. I 


158 


HERB OF GRACE 


never heard any one read so beautifully/’ she said. But 
Elizabeth was silent; only as they were crossing the 
little bridge she turned for a moment to Malcolm, who 
was following her closely. 

“ You have a right to be critical,” she said meaningly ; 
“ I should think you must have been top of the class,” 
and a flush of gratification came to his face. 

They all went to church again in the evening, and 
this time Mr. Charrington read the prayers and the les- 
sons, in a mellow, cultured voice that was very agreeable 
to Malcolm’s ear. Mr. Carlyon preached. 

Malcolm settled himself in his corner and prepared 
himself for twenty minutes’ endurance, but to his surprise 
he soon found himself roused and interested. 

If the preacher’s articulation was imperfect — if he took 
hurried breaths and stumbled here and there over a sen- 
tence — Malcolm soon ceased to notice it. 

The treasure might be in an earthen vessel, but it was 
goodly treasure for all that; the priest might be young 
and inexperienced, but he had his Evangel, his message 
to deliver, and the earnestness of his purpose was reflected 
in his face. “ Rejoice, oh young man, in thy youth,” was 
the text ; but before the short sermon was over, the row 
of ploughboys near therri had roused from their drowsi- 
ness and stroked down their sleek heads with embarrassed 
fingers, as David Carlyon’s voice rang through the 
darkening church with the concluding words, “ but know 
thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into 
judgment.” 

Involuntarily Malcolm glanced at Elizabeth as they 
rose, but she did not see him ; her large bright eyes were 
fixed on the preacher for a moment, then her head bent 
meekly to receive the blessing, and to Malcolm’s disap- 
pointment she made no allusion to the sermon on their 
way home. 


CHAPTER XVI 

“ IT REALLY IS A GOOD IDEA, DIE’’ 

It is most certain that woman’s most womanly affections are 
the likeness of affections which have their pure and perfect foun- 
tain in the nature of God. — Pulsford. 

After supper that evening Malcolm found himself 
alone with Dinah. Elizabeth and Cedric had gone down 
to the Pool to find a book she had left there in the after- 
noon, and he had been on the point of following them 
when he saw a wistful look in Miss Templeton’s eyes, 
and immediately sat down again. 

“ You want to speak to me,” he said pleasantly. He 
was quite aware that Elizabeth had carried off her brother 
with intent and purpose, and smiled to himself over her 
little ruse. 

“ She is very clever. I wonder if the missing book is 
a figment of her imagination,” he thought ; but in this he 
wronged her, for that little red-edged copy of Keble’s 
Christian Year was very dear to Elizabeth. 

Yes, I want to speak to you,” returned Dinah, and 
her tone was rather anxious and flurried. “ The time is 
growing so short now, and to-morrow there will not be a 

moment, and so Elizabeth said ” and here again a 

flickering smile played over Malcolm’s face. 

“ And she has carried Cedric off because you wanted 
to speak to me about him.” Dinah was so hesitating in 
her manner that he thought it best to finish her sentence 
for her. I hope nothing is troubling you on his ac- 
count. In my opinion he is very much improved.” 

“ Oh, I am so glad you think so,” and all Dinah’s 
mother-soul shone out of her mild eyes. Elizabeth was 
only saying last night how strong and manly he has 
grown. But, Mr. Herrick, I am rather anxious about one 

159 


i6o 


HERB OF GRACE 


thing. You know Cedric is to row in the Oxford and 
Cambridge race.’^ 

‘‘ I am certainly aware of the fact/’ replied Malcolm 
drily. The Jacobis and the University race had been the 
two standing dishes with which Cedric had regaled him. 
“ I have heard of little else, I can assure you. Well, he 
is a lucky fellow ; it is not every one who gets the desire 
of his heart.” 

“ Then you approve of it?” questioned Dinah; but her 
tone was so dubious that he looked at her with unfeigned 
astonishment. 

My dear Miss Templeton, how could I do otherwise ? 
It will be valuable training for Cedric ; the discipline and 
self-denial that it entails will be the making of him. Of 
course his head is rather turned at present, and he is 
crowing like a bantam cock who wants to challenge the 
world, but he will soon be all right.” 

“ You and Elizabeth think alike, then,” replied Dinah; 
“ she only laughs at me and calls me old-fashioned. I 
suppose I am not up-to-date,” with a touching little 
smile ; “ it seems to me such waste of time and energy. 
And then there is the Civil Service Examination.” 

“ Oh, we need not trouble our heads about that for 
another eighteen months.” 

‘‘You think not?” still more anxiously. “Both Mr. 
Charrington and Mr. Carlyon tell me that it is a terribly 
hard examination.” 

“ Well, it is pretty stiff, of course, and Cedric will have 
to work hard. You must give him his head for the 
present, Miss Templeton,” he continued. “ When he has 
taken his beating like an Englishman — for perhaps you 
are not aware there is a very poor chance for Oxford 
next year; their best men have left, and they have to 
lick a lot of raw recruits into shape. Well, what was I 
saying? — when Cedric has taken his beating and cooled 
down a bit, he will settle to work like a navvy.” 


“IT REALLY IS A GOOD IDEA, DIE” i6i 


Dinah looked a little comforted. “ Then you think he 
will pass?” 

Malcolm almost laughed outright at her simplicity. 

“ Miss Templeton, am I to prophecy smooth things to 
you, or am I to answer in the spirit of Micaiah the son 
of Imlah?” 

“ Oh, please tell me exactly what you think.” 

“ Well, then,” with obvious reluctance, “ in my opinion 
Cedric stands a very poor chance.” Here Dinah’s face 
fell. “ He has plenty of abilities, but I doubt his staying 
power; he works too much by fits and starts — there is 
no method or application. But of course he may turn 
over a new leaf. It is just possible that he may pass by 
some lucky fluke. It is not always the best workers who 
get through. You will give him a coach, of course. Oh, 
I see,” reading Dinah’s expression correctly, “ he may 
have a dozen coaches if he needs them ; but if you care to 
consult me when the time comes, I think I know the right 
man for cramming.” 

“ Oh, thank you — thank you !” in a fervent tone of 
gratitude ; “ how good you are to listen to me so pa- 
tiently !” 

“ My dear lady ” in a friendly tone of remon- 

strance. “ But there is something else you want to 
say.” 

“ Only this : if Cedric does not pass, what are we to do 
with him? You know he has utterly refused to enter the 
Church or to study for the law. He has no taste for 
engineering or architecture, and we should not care for 
him to be a business man.” 

“Need we consider the point at present?” returned 
Malcolm gently. “ There is a limited number of profes- 
sions, certainly. What do you say to a ^mastership in a 
public school? I fancy the life would suit Cedric; his 
love of boating would score there.” Then Dinah bright- 
ened visibly. 


II 


HERB OF GRACE 


162 

We never thought of that ; even Elizabeth, who is so 
full of ideas, only suggested his going to an agricultural 
college to learn farming.” 

“ Oh, that would never suit him,” replied Malcolm in 
an off-hand manner. “ He likes to have his bread ready 
buttered for him ; cornfields and flour-mills are not in his 
line at all. Ah, here comes the search-party,” and Mal- 
colm looked a little curiously at the book in Elizabeth’s 
hand. 

“ Oh, we have had such a hunt for it.” Elizabeth 
looked quite hot and tired. Cedric found it at last 
wedged between two boulders. I wonder he did not fall 
into the Pool while he was trying to get it out.” 

“ Oh, Cedric, you ought to be more careful.” 

Why on earth did you say that, Betty ?” rather 
crossly. “ Don’t you see Die is wearing her grannie 
face?” 

“ But the Pool is so deep,” in a terrified tone. 

Of course it is deep. Well, what of that ; can’t I 
swim like a fish? Oh, these women, Herrick!” and Ced- 
ric shrugged his shoulders. “ I wonder how often I have 
taken a header into the Pool before breakfast I” 

“ You would have been sorry to lose the book,” re- 
marked Malcolm sympathetically, as they went Into the 
house. 

“ Yes,” returned Elizabeth hurriedly, “ it was given to 
me by a friend.” And then she bade him good-night. 

Dinah followed her into her room. “ I am so glad you 
found it, Betty dear,” she said kindly. “ It was the 
copy David gave you at Christmas, was it not?” Eliza- 
beth nodded. 

I do so love it,” she said frankly ; ‘‘ and the limp 
leather binding and red edges are just to my taste. I 
always care so much more for books that are given me 
than for those I buy myself.” Elizabeth spoke with such 
complete unconsciousness that Dinah thought she had 


“IT REALLY IS A GOOD IDEA, DIE” 163 

made a mistake in imagining that she specially prized the 
book. 

“ Oh, I want to tell you, dear, how very kind Mr. 
Herrick has been.” And then with many little feminine 
interpolations Dinah related the substance of their con- 
versation. She was almost childishly pleased when Eliza- 
beth graciously approved of Malcolm’s suggestion. 

“ It really is a good idea. Die.” 

“ And to think it never entered our heads ! Don’t you 
wonder Mr. Carlyon never thought of it?” 

“ Well, you see he has never taken Cedric’s future into 
serious consideration. But what fun it would be! We 
would furnish his rooms so beautifully, and we could 
stay with him sometimes. And when he married we 
could build him a house that would be the envy of all 
the masters. Fancy Cedric marrying and our having a 
dear little sister-in-law of our own.” 

“ Oh, how I shall love her !” murrnured Dinah with a 
happy little coo of satisfaction. This was not the first 
time they had talked on the subject. That her darling 
would marry, and that she would dearly love his wife, 
was a foregone conclusion to Dinah. 

The little fair-haired girl of her dreams was not Tina 
Ross, nor even pretty Nora Brent — no one that Dinah 
knew was quite good enough for her boy. 

“ You ridiculous grannie,” Elizabeth once said to her, 
for she and Cedric often called her grannie, probably from 
her careful, loving, old-womanish ways, “ do you suppose 
such a rara avis exists in Earlsfield or Rotherwood ? Let 
me see,” ticking off each qualification on her fingers, 
“ young Mrs. Cedric Templeton must be pretty — oh, very 
pretty ; fair, because Cedric has a fancy for fair women 
with blue eyes; not tall — oh, decidedly not tall; petite, 
graceful, and je ne sais quoi -” 

“ Now, Betty ” 

“ Betty has not finished, and does not like to be inter- 


164 


HERB OF GRACE 


rupted. This Blanche — shall we' call her Blanche? it is 
short and handy — Blanche is also full of gentle anima- 
tion ; she is docile, yielding, and has nice caressing ways 
that grannie loves. Indeed, she is such a guileless, sinij^le 
little creature that it is difficult to believe that she is 
grown up — just eighteen, I think you said, Dinah, or was 
it nineteen, dear?” But Dinah refused to hear any more. 

Elizabeth might laugh at her and call her grannie, but 
in her secret thoughts Dinah cherished a fond idea of a 
little fair-haired girl whom she would mother for Cedric’s 
sake. 

And now first Malcolm and then Elizabeth had given 
her this charming new idea. 

“ I am afraid you will be shocked,” she said presently, 

but I do not think I shall be so dreadfully disappointed 
if Cedric does fail in his Civil Service Examination. He 
might have to go to India, you see, and it would be so 
much nicer to keep him in England.” 

“ The heart of man, and woman too, is deceitful and 
desperately wicked,” and Elizabeth heaved a deep sigh. 
“ To think that you can be so selfish. Die, as to build 
up your happiness on the poor lad’s ruined hopes,” and 
then she burst out laughing and took her sister by the 
shoulders. “ Grannie,” she said solemnly, “ you just 
idolise that boy. If it would do him any good you would 
lie down and let him trample on you. Have I not often 
warned you that if you go on like this you will turn him 
out a full-fledged tyrant? Human nature — masculine 
human nature I mean,” correcting herself — will not 
stand it. An enfant gate is always odious to sensible 
people. Now, if you were to try and spoil me,” expand- 
ing herself until she looked twice her size, “ I should only 
bloom out into fresh beauty — approbation, commendation, 
blindfold admiration would be meat and drink to me. I 
have the digestion of a young ostrich,” continued Eliza- 
beth blandly — “ nothing would be too difficult for me to 


“IT REALLY IS A GOOD IDEA, DIE’^ 165 


swallow. As for satiety, my dear creature, you need 
never expect to hear me call out, " Eheii, jam satis f ” 

“ Dear Betty, how you do talk,” Dinah’s usual for- 
mula ; “ and how I do love to hear you,” she inwardly 
added. “ But it is very late, and we shall have a tiring 
day to-morrow.” 

Dinah spoke in her cheery way, but when she was 
in her own room her sweet face grew pensive and a little 
sad. Was there not an element of truth under Elizabeth’s 
jokes? Did she not make an idol of her young brother? 
Was she altogether reasonable on the subject? 

“ If I am weak, I trust such weakness will be forgiven 
me,” she whispered as she stood in the perfumed dark- 
ness, with a wandering summer wind playing refreshingly 
round her, and tears from some hidden fount of sadness 
stole down her cheeks. “ If he were my own child he 
could not be dearer to me. I remember my stepmother 
once told me so. ‘ My boy has two mothers, Dinah,’ these 
were her very words. Well, he is my Son of Consola- 
tion,” and Dinah heaved a gentle sigh, as though the 
motherhood within her, the divine maternal instinct in- 
herent in all true women, felt itself satisfied. 

At breakfast the next morning Malcolm proffered his 
services; but Elizabeth assured him that Cedric and 
Johnson would do all that was required, so he spent his' 
morning indolently down by the Pool — reading and in- 
dulging in his favourite daydreams — until Cedric joined 
him. 

Cedric looked heated and tired. 

“ I never saw such a person as Betty for getting work 
out of a fellow,” he grumbled. “ She would do splendidly 
on a rice plantation — wouldn’t the niggers fly just ! Why, 
she set me rolling the tennis lawn, because she wanted 
Johnson; and then I had to bicycle over to Rotherwood 
for something that had been forgotten. I took it out in 
cool drinks though, I can tell you. My word. Bet does 


HERB OF GRACE 


1 66 

know how to make prime claret cup” — and Cedric 
smacked his lips with the air of a veteran gourmand ; and 
then he sparred at Malcolm, and called him an absent- 
minded beggar, and asked if he had finished his ode to the 
naiad of the Pool, and made sundry other aggravating 
remarks, which proved that he was in excellent spirits 
and only wanted to find a safety-valve. 

Just before the first carriage drove up, Malcolm, who 
was standing by Elizabeth on the terrace, suggested that 
she and Mr. Carlyon should give him and Cedric their 
revenge ; but she told him quite seriously that they must 
not think of it for the present. 

“ The sets are all arranged, and Dinah and I must de- 
vote ourselves to our guests,” she remarked ; and as this 
was only reasonable, Malcolm said no more. 

“ I am going to introduce you to Tina Ross,” she con- 
tinued. “ There she and her sister Patty are just coming 
up the drive now. She is a very good player, and your 
opponents will be Nora Brent and Mr. Carlyon.” 

We are under orders, Herrick,” observed David with 
mock humility ; and then the introduction was made^ and 
the little white and blue fairy walked off demurely enough 
with Malcolm. 

Tina Ross was certainly a very pretty girl; she had 
one of those babyish sort of faces that appeal so strongly 
to some men; her manners were kittenish and full of 
vivacity, and she had a way of glancing at a person from 
under her long curling lashes that was considered very 
alluring. Do please be good and kind to a poor little 
harmless thing like me,” they seemed to say to each fresh 
comer, “ for you are such a nice man ;” but Malcolm, who 
saw plenty of girls in town, took no notice of a little 
country chit’s airs and graces; indeed, he thoug;ht Nora 
Brent far more attractive — human kittens not being to 
his taste. 

'' I don’t think much of the fine gentleman from Lon- 


IT REALLY IS A GOOD IDEA, DIE’' 167 


don,” whispered Tina rather venomously to Nora when 
the game was finished. I hate a town prig like poison.” 

“ Anyhow he played splendidly, and has given us a 
regular beating,” returned her friend, who would will- 
ingly have exchanged partners. There was nothing ex- 
citing in playing with an old friend like David Carlyon, 
who was a sort of connection of the Brents, indeed, a dis- 
tant, a very distant cousin; but Malcolm’s dark intel- 
lectual face and rather melancholy eyes somewhat at- 

Nora had her wish presently, and again Mr. Carlyon 
was Malcolm’s opponent; this time a Miss Douglas was 
his partner. It was a well-contested game, but again 
Malcolm was the victor ; but he wore his honours meekly, 
tracted Nora. 

“ Bravo, Mr. Herrick, and you too, Nora,” exclaimed 
Elizabeth, clapping her hands, “ you both played splen- 
didly ; now come into the hall and let me give you some 
claret cup;” but she lingered a moment until Mr. Carl- 
yon came up with his partner. 

“ I am not in good form to-day,” he said, sinking into 
an easy-chair as though he were tired. “ I feel Mon- 
dayish — do you know what I mean, Herrick ?” 

‘‘ I can guess. It is a purely clerical term. You have 
taken it out of yourself, and then you feel a sort of reac- 
tion — or rather, to speak more correctly, a sort of de- 
pression;” but as he spoke, he realised for the first time 
the truth of Elizabeth’s assertion that Mr. Carlyon was 
not strong. 

Elizabeth had never looked better in Malcolm’s opinion 
than she did that afternoon; if he had not admired her 
before, he must have owned then that she was a dis- 
guished-looking woman. 

She wore a gray dress of some soft material, which 
Malcolm, who was rather a connoisseur on feminine at- 
tire, decided in his own mind was a Paris gown, — strange 
to say, he was right, — and the black Gainsborough hat 


i68 


HERB OF GRACE 


and feathers suited her exactly. It was evident Mr. Carl- 
yon agreed with him, for Malcolm saw him once looking 
at her intently under his hand. 

A little while afterwards Malcolm, who was too hot 
to play any more, strolled off by himself down one of the 
woodland paths to get cool, but to his chagrin he heard 
voices which told him the speakers were parallel with him, 
and the next minute he heard Tina Ross say pettishly — 

“ Did you ever see any one so ridiculous as Elizabeth 
Templeton; just fancy wearing her Paris gown at a 
trumpery little home affair like this ! Talk of coquetry/' 
in a disgusted voice, “ do you suppose she did not know 
what she was doing when she pinned those La France 
roses in her dress ! It is not as though she were our age ; 
she is thirty — thirty ; why, that is quite an old maid !” 

“How can you be so absurd. Tiny?” It was Nora 
Brent who spoke. “ Fancy calling Miss Elizabeth Tem- 
pleton an old maid. Mamma was only saying how hand- 
some she looked.” Here Malcolm coughed rather loudly, 
but no one too^c any notice. 

“ Handsome is as handsome does,” returned Tina, in 
rather a vixenish tone. “ I hope you noticed, Nora, that 
I was never allowed to have Mr. Carlyon for a partner. 
Talk of Queen Elizabeth indeed — we have Queen Eliza- 
beth the second at Staplegrove. If one spoke to the poor 
man it was ‘ hands off — don’t poach on my preserves,’ 
just as though she thought him her own property, which 
he is not, and never will be.” 

“ Really, Tina, you are too bad ; you ought not to say 
such things of our dear Miss Elizabeth. You had Mr. 
Herrick for your partner.” 

“ Oh, he is a town prig,” began Tina recklessly ; but 
here Malcolm, who had cleared his voice, in vain, now be- 
gan to whistle with such unmistakable purpose that a dead 
silence ensued. 

“ What a spiteful little toad !” thought Malcolm, who 


‘‘IT REALLY IS A GOOD IDEA, DIE’’ 169 


cared nothing for fluffy hair and curling eyelashes if a 
shrewish tongue accompanied them. 

He Thought both the girls avoided him in rather a 
guilty fashion when he passed them on the terrace;^ and 
he was inwardly disgusted when, most of the guests 
having taken their leave, and supper being announced, 
Elizabeth asked him to take Miss Tina Ross into the 
dining-room; Nora followed with Mr. Carlyon, but the 
width of the table separated him. Malcolm paid the 
young lady proper attention; that is to say, he kept her 
plate supplied with good things, but otherwise he took 
very little notice of her, and talked to gentle-looking Mrs. 
Brent, who was on his other side. 

But Tina was not used to being ignored, and by this 
time she had made up her mind that Malcolm could only 
have heard a fragment of their talk in the woodlands, so 
she addressed him pointedly, and obliged him to break 
off something he was saying to the elder lady. 

“ So you dined at the vicarage on Saturday, I hear. 
How dreadfully bored you must have been! Mr. Char- 
rington is an old dear, but he is rather a prig. I mean” — 
transfixed by the sudden gleam in Malcolm’s eyes — “ I 
mean, that is — that he is so learned.” 

“ Oh, I am quite aware of your meaning, Miss Ross,” 
returned Malcolm quietly, “ but I am rather an embryo 
prig myself.” Then for the remainder of the meal Tina 
was absolutely dumb. 


CHAPTER XVII 


"adieu AU REVOIR^" 

If there is power in me to help, 

It goeth forth beyond the present will, 

Clothing itself in very common deeds 
Of any humble day’s necessity. 

MacDonald. 

The pleasantest part of the whole evening to Malcolm 
was the hour spent on the terrace when the last guests 
were gone. The Brents had undertaken to drive Mr. 
Carlyon to the White Cottage, much to the chagrin of the 
Ross girls, whose homeward route took them through 
Rotherwood, and who also had a seat to spare. Malcolm 
had a dim suspicion that Elizabeth had connived at this 
arrangement. 

" You had better go with the Brents if they ask you,” 
she had said earlier in the evening, but he had not heard 
Mr. Carlyon’s reply. 

" Well, what do you think of little Tina?” asked Eliza- • 
beth. They were standing by the drawing-room window ; 
Malcolm could see the mischievous look in her eyes, and 
refused to be drawn. 

" Most people would admire her,” he returned coolly. 

" But unfortunately you are the exception — is that what 
you mean, Mr. Herrick? What a shame not to admire 
our pretty little blue-eyed kitten!” 

" Kittens can scratch,” he returned quietly ; and then 
Elizabeth looked more amused than ever. 

" What, has Tina shown her claws to you? I thought 
she always wore her velvet gloves for strangers. I 
fancied I was doing you a good turn to introduce you to 
170 


“ADIEU— AU REVOIR” 


171 

the prettiest girl in Rotherwood. She and Patty will be 
rich too, for there is no son, and Mr. Ross is very 
wealthy.’^ 

“ Made his fortune on the Stock Exchange,” explained 
Cedric. “ Clever old chap — shouldn’t mind if he would 
give me the straight tip. I tell you what. Die,” and here 
Cedric lit himself another cigarette, “ if I come a cropper 
in the exam, the Stock Exchange would not be a bad 
place for me to make my little pile.” 

It was impossible not to laugh at Dinah’s horrified face. 

“ Don’t believe him. Die,” observed Elizabeth calmly. 
“ Cedric has no vocation for a business man — he is only 
teasing you. Yes, Tina and Patty will have plenty of 
money,” but as Malcolm did not seem to warm up to 
any interest, Elizabeth with much tact changed the sub- 
ject, and they were soon discussing the other guests. 

When Malcolm woke the next morning his first feel- 
ing was regret that his visit was over. He had accepted 
Cedric’s invitation with reluctance, and had put him off 
again and again. He had a remorseful consciousness 
that he might have been a guest at the Wood House 
eighteen months ago. By this time he would have been 

intimate with the sisters. He might but here Malcolm 

leapt rather impatiently from his couch. What was the 
good of thinking over past mistakes ! He had been a 
fool, and stood in his own light — that was all. During 
breakfast he was very cheerful, and seemed in such ex- 
cellent spirits that the passing thought occurred to Eliza- 
beth that Mr. Herrick was not sorry that his visit had 
ended. 

“ We are not clever enough for him,” she said to her- 
self regretfully ; but Malcolm’s next speech dispelled this 
idea. 

Dinah had just expressed her regret at losing him. 

“ I have no wish to go, I assure you,” was his reply ; 
“ I have never spent a happier week in my life. But you 


1/2 


HERB OF GRACE 


know in another two or three weeks I hope to be settled 
at the Crow’s Nest. We shall be near neighbours then.” 
He looked at Elizabeth as he spoke. It struck him that 
she was a little embarrassed. Her colour rose, and there 
was a slight pucker in her brow, as though something 
perplexed her ; but the next minute it was gone. 

“ In that case we must fix the date for the Templeton 
Bean-feast,” she remarked briskly. Mr. Herrick,” her 
voice changing to earnestness, will it be quite impossible 
for Miss Sheldon to come to our garden-party. We could 
put her up easily — and it is really rather a pretty sight. 
We had two hundred people last year, and the Hungarian 
band.” 

“ It was rattling good sport,” chimed in Cedric. 
“ There were fifteen of our fellows sleeping at ‘ The 
Plough,’ because we had a dance in the evening; not 
only our house, but Hazel Beach, the Ross’s house, and 
Brentwood Place, where Colonel Brent lives, were 
crammed with guests. People talked about it for a 
month afterwards.” 

“ It cost a great deal of money,” observed Dinah, in 
rather an alarmed voice. “We could not do that sort 
of thing again. You see, Mr. Herrick, it was really to 
make up to Cedric because he had no party when he came 
of age. I was ill just then, and we had to go away.” 

“ No, no, you are quite right. Die, we must keep our 
Bean-feast within limits,” returned Elizabeth soothingly. 
“We thought of fixing the twentieth of August,” she 
continued, addressing Malcolm. “ That is nearly a month 
later than last year. I expect most of our inner circle 
friends will be away, but we shall have a good house- 
party ; and with some of Cedric’s Oxford friends we shall 
be able to infuse sufficient new life into our country 
clique. Well, Mr. Herrick, is that likely to suit Miss 
Sheldon?” 

“ I am afraid not,” he returned regretfully, for he was 


‘‘ADIEU— AU REVOIR” 


173 


really quite touched at this thoughtfulness on her part. 
And how Anna would have loved it ! “ They will be at 
Whitby by that time. But I will tell her of your kind 
thought for her.” And then, as it was getting late, for 
they had lingered pleasantly over the meal, he went off 
to make his preparations, and half an hour afterwards 
the dog-cart was brought to the door. 

“ Good-bye, we shall miss you so much,” observed 
Dinah almost affectionately ; “ but we shall see plenty 
of you when you are at the Crow’s Nest.” 

“ I hope so. Thank you, dear Miss Templeton, for all 
your kind hospitality,” and then it was Elizabeth’s turn. 

“ Adieu — au revoir, Mr. Herrick,” but she pressed his 
hand very kindly as she spoke, and her eyes had a friendly 
bearn in them. 

“ Au revoir, and thanks to you too,” returned Mal- 
colm ; but the smile on his face was a little forced. 

As the dog-cart turned the corner he looked back. The 
sisters were still standing side by side. Elizabeth waved 
her hand. She was no longer the stately-looking woman 
in the Paris gown and picture hat, who had moved with 
such a queenly step among her guests. This was a far 
homelier Elizabeth, in the old striped blouse and battered 
garden hat, only this morning Malcolm found no fault 
with it. He was very silent for some time, but as he 
leant back in the dog-cart with folded arms and closely 
compressed lips, there was a glow in his dark eyes that 
somewhat contradicted his outward calmness. 

“ And you are going down to the Manor House on 
Thursday,” observed Cedric, as they came in sight of the 
station. “ What a pity my Henley visit is put off till the 
following week, or we might have had a good old time 
together.” 

“ Oh, I don’t know,” rather absently ; “ you will be 
too much taken up with your new friends to want an old 
stager like me.” 


174 


HERB OF GRACE 


“ You are wrong there,” returned the lad eagerly. I 
should be glad to have your opinion of” — he hesitated, 
and then finished lamely, “ of the Jacobis, I mean. You 
are such a judge of character, and all that sort of thing.” 

“Am I?” with a smile; but they had no time to say 
more, as the London train was signalled. 

An hour and a half later Malcolm was in his chambers 
in Lincoln’s Inn, opening his letters and dashing off re- 
plies, to be posted in due time by the obsequious Malachi. 
Malcolm found so much to occupy him that he decided 
not to go to Queen’s Gate until the following evening, 
and sent Anna a line to that effect. He felt a quiet even- 
ing at Cheyne Walk would be more in harmony with his 
feelings. 

As he crossed the broad space at the foot of the steps 
in Lincoln’s Inn, he overtook Caleb Martin wheeling the 
perambulator. Kit had her new doll hugged in her thin 
little arms. 

“ Oh, dad, do stop,” she exclaimed eagerly ; “ it is the 
gentleman what gave me my baby;” and then Malcolm 
stepped up to the perambulator. 

“ Kit has been looking out for you the last week, sir,” 
observed Caleb in, his humble, flurried way. “ She won’t 
even take notice of the pigeons; her heart is so set on 
thanking you for the doll. It is my belief that she thinks 
it is alive the way she goes on with it.” 

“ My baby’s asleep — should you like to see her open 
her eyes ?” asked Kit with maternal pride. “ She has 
blue eyes, she has, like dad’s and mine — only prettier. 
She is just the beautifullest thing I ever saw, ain’t she, 
dad ? and Ma’am says she must have cost a lot.” 

Malcolm smiled, but there was a pitiful look in his eyes. 
Even in these few days Kit’s face had grown thinner and 
more pinched, and the shrill voice was weaker. There 
was no longer a stiff halo of curls under the sun-bonnet ; 
they hung in limp wisps about her face. 


“ADIEU— AU REVOIR’’ 175 

“ Has the child been ill ?” he asked, and then Caleb 
looked at him in a dazed, nervous fashion. 

“ Not to call ill, sir, but just a bit piny and dwiny 
from the heat. Our place is like the Black Hole of Cal- 
cutta for stuffiness. She is that languid and fretty that 
we can’t get her to eat, so my wife made me take her out 
for an airing.” 

Malcolm pondered for a moment. Then a sudden in- 
spiration came to him. There was a fruiterer in the 
Strand, and he was just thinking of carrying a basket 
of fruit to Verity. He bade Caleb follow him slowly, and 
a few minutes later a great bunch of roses and a paper 
bag of white-heart cherries and another of greengages 
were packed into the perambulator; some sponge-cakes 
and a crisp little brown loaf were also purchased for Kit’s 
tea, and then they went rejoicing on their way. As Mal- 
colm walked on he made up his mind that his first act 
when he arrived at the Crow’s Nest would be to take 
counsel with Elizabeth. “ The child will die if some- 
thing is not done for her,” he said to himself ; “ perhaps 
she will be able to suggest something;” but it never oc- 
curred to him to confide in his mother. “ Individual 
cases do not appeal to her,” he had once said to Anna. 
“ She prefers to work on a more extended scale,” and 
though Anna contradicted this with unusual warmth, 
Malcolm had some grounds for his sweeping assertion. 

Malcolm spent the evening very pleasantly discussing 
future arrangements with his friends. To his satisfaction 
the room he coveted was at once allotted to him, with 
the title of “ The Prophet’s Chamber ;” and, as he pro- 
fessed himself quite content with the bedroom in the 
garden-house, matters were soon settled, and both Verity 
and Amias looked pleased when Malcolm announced his 
intention of spending most of his summer vacation at 
the Crow’s Nest. They talked a good deal about the 
Wood House. Malcolm gave graphic descriptions of the 


176 


HERB OF GRACE 


house and the garden and the Pool, and he also drew 
rather a charming picture of the elder Miss Templeton. 

“ She is lovely in my opinion,” he said in his enthu- 
siastic way. “ I quite long for you to see her. Verity. 
She is just a gray-haired girl. She has the secret of per- 
petual youth. She is as guileless and simple as a child — 
any one could deceive her, and yet she is wise too.” 

“ And her sister?” asked Verity, as Malcolm paused. 

“ Oh, Miss Elizabeth Templeton is quite different,” re- 
turned Malcolm hurriedly, as he filled his pipe ; “ it is 
not easy to describe her — you must judge of her your- 
self.” 

“ Then she is not as nice as this wonderful Dinah ?” 
observed Verity in a disappointed tone. 

“ Oh, yes, she is quite as nice,” he returned briefly ; 
but the sisters are utterly dissimilar.” And not another 
word could Verity, with all her teasing, extract from 
Malcolm. 

“ I should like you to be perfectly unbiassed in your 
opinion,” he remarked sententiously. Verity made a 
naughty little face in the darkness. 

“ I wonder if it is the Crow’s Nest, our society, or 
Miss Elizabeth Templeton that is the attraction,” she 
thought. But, being a loyal little soul, she never hinted 
at a certain suspicion that had taken possession of her 
mind, even to her husband. 

Malcolm received a warm welcome from his mother 
and Anna the next evening. He found them sitting by 
one of the open windows in the large drawing-room. 
Mrs. Herrick was working, and Anna was reading to 
her. The sun-blinds had just been raised, and the fresh 
evening air blew refreshingly through the wide room. 
The tall green palms behind them made a pleasant back- 
ground to Anna’s white dress. It struck Malcolm that 
she looked paler and more tired, and her eyes had a heavy, 
languid look. To his surprise Mrs. Herrick spoke of it 
at once. 


“ADIEU— AU REVOIR” 


127 


“ Anna is not looking her best this evening, Malcolm,” 
she said as he sat down between them ; “ this great heat 
tries her. Dr. Armstrong thinks we ought to leave town 
as soon as possible, so we are going to Whitby a week 
earlier.” 

“ Mother has cancelled a lot of her engagements,” ob- 
served Anna, looking at her affectionately. “ I am so 
sorry to give her all this trouble.” But Mrs. Herrick 
would not allow her to finish. 

“ Mothers are only too glad to take trouble for their 
children,” she said kindly. “ Anna has been behaving 
badly, Malcolm; she fainted at church on Sunday, and 
had one of her worst sick headaches afterwards.” 

There was unmistakable anxiety in Malcolm’s eyes 
when he heard this, but Anna only laughed it off. The 
church was hot, she said, any one might have fainted. 
But the sea-breezes would soon set her up; they had 
beautiful rooms quite close to the sea, with a wide balcony 
where they could spend their evenings. 

“ I hope you will come down to us for a week or two,” 
observed his mother presently. Malcolm felt rather a 
twinge of conscience as he replied that he feared this was 
impossible; he had some literary work on hand, which 
he intended to do at Staplegrove. Mrs. Keston was able 
to spare him a nice room, which he could use as a study ; 
and so he had made his arrangements. And then he 
added rather regretfully that, as he was going to the 
Manor House the following afternoon, he feared that 
he should not see them again. Mrs. Herrick said no more, 
she was not a woman to waste words unnecessarily ; but 
she was undoubtedly much disappointed, and even a little 
hurt, and for the moment Anna looked grave. At dinner- 
time she made an effort to recover her spirits, and ques- 
tioned Malcolm about his new acquaintances at the Wood 
House ; and on this occasion he was less reticent. 

But it was not until his mother had left them alone 


12 


1/8 


HERB OF GRACE 


together that he told Anna of Elizabeth’s kind invita- 
tion. 

A surprised flush came to the girl’s face. 

‘‘Do you think you could possibly manage it, dear?” 
he asked with brotherly solicitude. But he was sorry to 
see how her lips trembled. 

“ Oh no — no, you must not tempt me,” very hurriedly ; 
“ it is quite — quite impossible. I must not think of it for 
a moment, Malcolm,” trying to speak calmly. “ I am so 
grateful to you for not speaking of this before mother; 
it would trouble her so, and quite spoil her pleasure; 
mother is so sharp, she always finds out things, and she 
would know at once that I should like to go to the Wood 
House.” 

“ Then I was right when I told Miss Elizabeth so,” 
returned Malcolm. “ It is just the place you would like, 
Anna; I know you would be happy with those kind 
women.” 

“ I do not doubt it for a moment,” and Anna’s voice 
was rather melancholy. “ I should so love to know your 
friends, Malcolm ; it all sounds so lovely, and you would 
be near, and — and it was so dear of Miss Elizabeth to 
think of it. Will you thank her for me, Malcolm, and 
tell her that mother needs me so much, and that she has 
no one else.” 

“ Did you mean that for a hit at me, Anna dear ?” 
and Malcolm’s voice was rather reproachful. 

“ For you,” looking at him tenderly, “ oh no — no, Mal- 
colm ;” and then to his dismay she suddenly burst into 
tears. 

“ Don’t mind me, I am silly to-night,” she said, strug- 
gling to regain her composure. “ Mother is right, and 
I am not quite well, and — and things will go crooked in 
this world.” But though Malcolm petted her, and called 
her a foolish child, and his dear little sister, Anna did not 
regain her former cheerfulness. And when Mrs. Her- 


ADIEU— AU REVOIR^ 


rick joined them she said her head had begun aching 
again, and that she would go to bed. 

Malcolm wished her good-night at the foot of the stair- 
case, and watched her until she was out of sight. His 
mother looked at him a little keenly when he rejoined 
her. 

“ What have you and Anna been talking about ?” she 
asked rather abruptly ; “ the child does not look quite 
happy.” 

‘‘We were only talking about the ladies of the Wood 
House,” he returned quietly. “ Anna thinks she would 
like to make their acquaintance some day.” But Mrs. 
Herrick made no reply to this ; she was regarding her son 
thoughtfully, and her strong, sensible face wore an ex- 
pression almost of sadness. But she gave him no clue’ to 
her feelings, and when the time came for him to take his 
leave her manner was more affectionate than usual. 

She was still on the balcony as he passed out, and a 
cheery “ Good-night, my son,” floated down to him. But 
as she stood listening to his departing footsteps she said 
to herself, “ He is changed somehow, he is not quite him- 
self, and Anna has noticed it. I wonder” — and here she 
sighed rather heavily — “ I wonder what sort of woman 
this Miss Elizabeth Templeton can be.” 


CHAPTER XVIII 


YES^ SHE GAVE HIM UP" 

Thou art so good, 

So calm ! — If thou shouldst wear a brow less light 
For some wild thought which, but for me, were kept 
From out thy soul as from a sacred star ! 

Browning. 

To every living soul that same He saith, 

“ Be faithful whatsoever else we be. 

Let us be faithful, challenging His faith. 

Christina Rossetti. 

The Manor House where the Godfreys lived was a fine 
old red-brick Elizabethan house, standing about a quarter 
of a mile from the river. 

A delightful garden surrounded it, but the chief point 
of attraction to visitors was a terrace walk, shaded by 
old chestnut trees, which formed its extreme boundary, 
and which, on the hottest summer’s day, offered a cool 
and shady retreat. 

The terrace was broad, and at one end was a sort of 
loggia or alcove built of grayish-white stone, with a wide 
stone bench running round it. From this point there was 
a charming view of the river between the trees, and it 
was here that Malcolm found his hostess on his arrival 
at the Manor House. 

Mrs. Godfrey was reading in the loggia, with her hus- 
band’s magnificent deer-hounds lying at her feet. She 
laid aside her book and welcomed her visitor with a 
warmth and cordiality that were evidently sincere.. 
Strangers who saw Mrs. Godfrey for the first time were 
generally apt to remark that she was one of the plainest 
women they had ever seen; and they would add in a 
parenthesis, “ It is such a pity, for the Colonel is so hand- 
180 


“YES, SHE GAVE HIM UP^ 


i8i 


some.” But even the most critical agreed that no woman 
could be more charming. She had spent a great deal of 
her life abroad, and her easy, well-bred manner, her 
savoir-faire and broad, sagacious views on every subject, 
had been gained in the world’s academy. In spite of her 
goodness of heart and real unselfishness, she was essen- 
tially a woman of the world. Little as Malcolm guessed 
it at that time, she was Elizabeth Templeton’s greatest 
friend ; indeed, both the sisters were devoted to her, and 
some of Elizabeth’s happiest and gayest hours had been 
spent in the Manor House. 

“ I certainly never hoped to find you alone,” were Mal- 
colm’s first words. Mrs. Godfrey smiled. 

“ It is almost an unprecedented fact in the Manor 
House annals,” she returned gaily ; “ but we shall be ab- 
solutely alone until Tuesday, and then every room will 
be filled. If you had consented to stay for a week, I 
could have promised you a big affair on a steam-launch, 
a picnic, and a tennis tournament; but now our solitary 
function will be a garden-party on Monday.” 

“ Please do not speak in such an apologetic tone,” re- 
plied Malcolm. “ If you knew how my soul abhors pic- 
nics and water-parties ! It is really too delightful to 
know that I may enjoy your society in peace for three 
whole days. By the bye, where is the Colonel?” 

“ Oh, Alick has gone to Henley to see an old chum of 
his, but he will be back in good time for dinner. Is it not 
lovely down here, Mr. Herrick? I thought it would be 
such a pity to go indoors that I told Deacon that we 
would have tea here.” Then, as Malcolm signified his 
approval of this arrangement, they sauntered slowly down 
the terrace, that Malcolm might take in all points of the 
extensive view. When they retraced their steps to the 
loggia, the butler and footman were setting out a rustic 
tea-table. 

“And so you have been staying at the Wood House?” 


i 82 


HERB OF GRACE 


began Mrs. Godfrey as she handed Malcolm his tea. 
“ Elizabeth Templeton’s letter this morning almost took 
my breath away. What a small world it is after all, Mr. 
Herrick !” 

“ Life treads on life,” murmured Malcolm, “ and heart 
on heart; 

“We press too close in church or mart 
To keep a dream or grave apart.” 

“ How true!” was the quiet rejoinder. “ Mrs. Brown- 
ing said that. Well, do you know, I was quite childishly 
surprised when I heard you had been a guest at the 
Wood House. ‘ Mr. Herrick has only just left us,’ were 
Elizabeth’s words ; ' Cedric is driving him to the station ; 
we have greatly enjoyed his visit,’ etcetera, etcetera.” 

Then a slight flush came to Malcolm’s dark face. 

“ I had a very pleasant time,” he returned ; “ they were 
most kind and hospitable. Miss Templeton is one of the 
most charming women I have ever met.” 

“ Dear Dinah — yes, she is very sweet. I do not think 
I have ever seen her ruffled. She is just lovely. But it 
is Elizabeth who is my friend.” 

Indeed!” 

“ Our friendship is a very real one,” continued Mrs. 
Godfrey thoughtfully ; “ and next to my husband there 
is no one whom I could trust as I could Elizabeth Tem- 
pleton. She is very strong.” 

“ Oh yes, she is very strong,” in a ruminative manner. 

“ Have you found that out already ?” in a surprised 
tone. “ But I remember you are a student of human 
nature, Mr. Herrick, and rather a keen observer. Most 
people would not be able to diagnose Elizabeth Temple- 
ton’s character correctly at the end of one short week. 
When I was first introduced to her, thirteen or fourteen 
years ago, I told Alick that I should never get on with 
any one who was so reserved and so stand-offish, but I 
soon changed my opinion. I found out that a great deal 


‘‘ YES, SHE GAVE HIM UP^ 


183 


of her reserve was in reality shyness, and that her frank- 
ness and openness of disposition were her chief charms.” 

“ And then you became friends ?” 

“ Yes; but not for a long time. We are neither of us 
at all gushing, and I was an old married woman, you 
know. But there came a time when she needed my help 
— when she was in anxiety — and a woman^s counsel and 
woman’s sympathy were a comfort to her.” Here Mrs. 
Godfrey paused as she became aware of the concentrated 
keenness in Malcolm’s eyes, and added hastily, The 
trouble was not her own ; but it is Elizabeth’s nature to 
take the burdens of others on her own shoulders. I never 
knew any one capable of such intense sympathy. It is a 
rare gift, Mr. Herrick, but it brings its possessor great 
suffering.” 

You are right,” in a low tone. 

I knew then that she was a woman in a thousand, 
and we have been close and dear friends ever since. Not 
that we often meet. She is a busy woman and so am I, 
but we generally stay at the Wood House once a year, and 
Elizabeth comes to me for a few days’ rest and refresh- 
ment whenever she can spare the time. Alick teases me 
sometimes about my lady-love, but I assure you that he 
is very fond of her, and is always delighted to hear she 
is coming to the Manor House.” 

Malcolm listened to this with deep interest. It seemed 
to him that every one who spoke to him of Elizabeth 
Templeton praised her without stint or limit; she was 
evidently much beloved, and the very fact that a person 
like Mrs. Godfrey should choose her for her most trusted 
friend was no mean title of honour; never was there a 
woman more fastidious and discriminating in her ideas 
of female friendship. 

Malcolm would willingly have heard more, but a curi- 
ous sort of embarrassment and a fear of betraying too 
deep an interest made him speak of her sister. 


HERB OF GRACE 


184 


“ Miss Templeton seems to have a happy nature,’’ he 
said a little abruptly. I never saw any one so perfectly 
peaceful and serene; it makes one better only to look at 
her. Her hair is gray, and yet when she smiles one is 
reminded of an innocent child, it is such a perfectly 
radiant expression.” 

‘‘ Yes, I know. Dear Dinah, she has the secret of per- 
petual youth. She is one of ‘ the little ones’ — you know 
what I mean. When I talk to her, as I tell Elizabeth 
sometimes, I feel such a worldly, frivolous creature. Her 
sister perfectly realises this, for she has the prettiest 
names for her. ' That angel-woman,’ I have heard her 
say that ; very often she calls her ' das Engelkind ;’ and 
without exaggeration she has a rare and beautiful nature.” 

Malcolm assented to this, then he said slowly, Has 
it ever struck you that there are no lines on Miss Tem- 
pleton’s face? I should think her life-story must be a 
happy one. I mean, that she has not known any very 
great trouble.” Then rather a peculiar expression crossed 
Mrs. Godfrey’s face. “ Ah, I see I have made a mistake,” 
observed Malcolm quickly. 

‘‘ Yes, you have made a mistake,” she replied a little 
sadly. “ Did you really think that even Dinah Templeton 
could have her forty years in the wilderness without her 
share of pain and difficulty? Well, it is ancient history, 
and there is no harm in telling you what every one knows, 
that in the bloom of her fresh young womanhood she had 
a sore trial and a great sorrow.” 

“ You say every one knows about it ?” returned Mal- 
colm eagerly. 

“ Yes, every one in Staplegrove and Earlsfield. Oh, 
I can read your face; you would like to hear about it. 
Well, there is no harm in my telling you. When Dinah 
Templeton was about three- or four-and-twenty she was 
engaged to Douglas Fraser, a doctor just beginning prac- 
tice in Earlsfield. 


YES, SHE GAVE HIM UP^ 


185 


“ Mr. Templeton was living at that time, and approved 
of the engagement. Dr. Fraser was devoted to his pro- 
fession. He was a rising man, and people predicted that 
before many years were over he would make his mark.” 

Douglas Fraser, the great authority on neurotic dis- 
eases in Harley Street !” exclaimed Malcolm in a tone of 
intense surprise. Mrs. Godfrey nodded. 

“ As a young man I have been told that he was per- 
fectly irresistible. Even now he is a grand-looking man 
of commanding presence, with a fine intellectual head and 
face. And as for Dinah, she must have been one of the 
sweetest-looking creatures on God’s earth. 

“ Well, they were engaged, and if ever a young pair 
of human lovers walked in the Garden of Eden, Dinah 
and Douglas Fraser were that couple — until the cloud 
came that was to eclipse their happiness in this world. 
There is no need for me to enter into the matter very 
fully, though I know everything. One unhappy day 
Dinah discovered that Dr. Fraser was an agnostic — that 
for some time he had had grave doubts on the subject 
of revealed religion, which he had kept to himself for 
fear of distressing her ; but now a sense of honour com- 
pelled him to tell her the truth. He had lost his faith, 
and he no longer believed in anything but science.” 

“ Good heavens, what a shock!” ejaculated Malcolm. 

“ You may well say so,” returned Mrs. Godfrey sadly. 
“ It was no light cross that Dinah had to bear. Even in 
her youth she was intensely religious. Religion was not 
a portion of her life, it was her life itself. To such a 
nature the idea of marrying an agnostic was practically 
impossible. ‘ If I marry Douglas I shall be committing 
a great sin,’ she said to her sister ; ‘ I shall be denying my 
Lord and Master ;’ and in the semi-delirium in the illness 
that ensued, Elizabeth could hear her say over and over 
again, ' Whoso loveth father and mother more than Me 
is not worthy of Me.’ ” 


HERB OF GRACE 


i86 

“ And she actually gave him up.” 

“ Yes, she gave him up, though it broke her heart and 
his to do so. I believe that he suffered terribly, and that 
he used every argument in his power to shake her resolu- 
tion, but in vain. 

“ She had a long illness after that. Elizabeth took her 
abroad. It was at Rome that I met them, and after a 
time we became intimate. Poor Dinah had a relapse, and 
I assisted Elizabeth in nursing her. Well, Mr. Herrick, 
I can read a question in your eye».” 

“ Yes, there is one thing I want to know — has not Dr. 
Fraser married?” 

“ To be sure he has ; but he did not marry for some 
years. He left Earlsfield and took a London practice, 
and his career has been a brilliant one. 

I believe Mrs. Fraser is a lovely woman, and they 
have three beautiful children. But the strangest part of 
my story is still to be told — Douglas Fraser is no longer 
an agnostic.” 

Malcolm looked at her silently ; but Mrs. Godfrey said 
no more, and not for worlds would he have asked another 
question. He could see that she was deeply moved, for 
her lip quivered a little. He rose from the bench and 
paced up and down the terrace, listening to the faint 
soughing of the dark chestnut leaves and looking at the 
cool, silvery gleam of the river between the tree-boles. 

Malcolm was a man of intensely imaginative and sym- 
pathetic nature. His mother had once told him that he 
had something of the woman in him. And certainly no 
one was more capable of filling up the outlines of the 
story he had just heard and giving it life and colouring. 

“ I admired her before,” he said to himself, “ but I 
shall look upon her as a saint now. She has had her 
martyrdom, if ever woman had, and has fought her fight 
nobly;” and then, with that clear insight that seemed 
natural to him, he added, “ She knows that he has come 


YES, SHE GAVE HIM UP” 


187 


right, and this is the secret of her serenity,” which was 
indeed the truth, though not the whole truth ; for Dinah 
Templeton had indeed realised her Master’s words, that 
through much tribulation we must enter into the kingdom 
of heaven. 

When Mrs. Godfrey rejoined Malcolm her husband 
was with her. Malcolm always declared that Colonel 
Godfrey was his typical and ideal Englishman. He was 
a well-built, soldierly-looking man of unusually fine pres- 
ence. As he was over fifty, his golden-brown moustache 
was slightly grizzled, and the hair had worn otf his fore- 
head ; but he was still strikingly handsome. He and his 
wife were alone. Both their sons were in the Indian 
army, and their only daughter was married and lived in 
Yorkshire. 

We are just an old Darby and Joan,” Mrs. Godfrey 
would say; but though she was only a year or two 
younger than her husband, she wore remarkably well, and 
still looked a comparatively young woman. 

Colonel Godfrey and Malcolm were excellent friends, 
and in a few minutes they were strolling through the 
fields towards the river-bank, talking on various topics 
of social and political interest, while Mrs. Godfrey re- 
turned to the house to write letters and dress for dinner. 

It was not until the following afternoon that Malcolm 
found an opportunity of sounding Mrs. Godfrey on the 
subject of the Jacobis. 

They were sitting in the loggia again, and the row of 
dark chestnut trees looked almost black against the in- 
tense blue of the sky. 

A faint breeze was just stirring the leaves, and every 
now and then a sort of ripple of sunlight seemed to 
streak the sombre foliage with gold. On the terrace there 
was a wealth of sunshine, and the stones felt hot to the 
feet. Only under the chestnuts tiny flickering shadows 
seemed to dance in and out among the tree-boles. 


HERB OF GRACE 


i88 

Colonel Godfrey had just been summoned to a busi- 
ness interview, and for the first time that day Malcolm 
found himself alone with his hostess. 

“ Oh, by the bye,’’ he observed rather abruptly, '' there 
is something I want to ask you. There are some people 
of the name of Jacobi who have taken a house at Henley. 
I wonder if you have come across them.” 

“ To be sure I have,” in rather a surprised tone. '' Miss 
Jacobi called here on Tuesday. Mrs. Sinclair drove her 
over.” 

“ Well, I want you to tell me what you think of them,” 
asked Malcolm. An amused look came into Mrs. God- 
frey’s eyes, and she held up her finger in chiding fashion. 

“ Oh, fie, for shame, Mr. Herrick ! You are deep — 
deep. So the handsome siren has attracted you too.” 

Handsome siren,” repeated Malcolm with unneces- 
sary energy. “ Why, what nonsense you are talking, my 
dear lady. I never saw Miss Jacobi in my life. It is 
Miss Templeton who desires information, and I promised 
her that I would sound you on the subject.” Then the 
mischievous spark died out of Mrs. Godfrey’s eyes. 

'‘Miss Templeton! Do you mean Dinah? What on 
earth can be the connection between her and the Jacobis. 
They were certainly not on hers or Elizabeth’s visiting- 
list when I was last at the Wood House.” 

“ No, they are complete strangers to them,” was Mal- 
colm’s reply ; “ but Cedric has come across them and 
seems rather thick with them. He is going to stay at 
Beechcroft — is that not the name of the place they have 
taken for the season?” 

“ Yes, I believe so,” returned Mrs. Godfrey in rather 
a perturbed tone. “ Cedric, that boy, going to stay with 
the Jacobis I” And then she broke off and said abruptly, 
“ I am sorry to hear it. I should not care for one of my 
boys to be thrown much into the society of Saul Jacobi 
and his sister.” 


CHAPTER XIX 


TOUCH OF THE TARTAR" 

Here comes the lady : O, so light a foot 

Will ne’er wear out the everlasting flint. 

Romeo and Juliet. 

When you doubt, abstain. — Zoroaster. 

Malcolm gave a slight start of dismay. Mrs. God- 
frey’s manner conveyed more than her words ; in spite of 
his secret prejudice, he was not prepared for so strong 
an expression of disapproval. She was a woman of sound 
judgment, and very charitable in her estimate of people, 
and he knew that he could rely on her opinion. Her 
intuitions were seldom at fault. Whether she blamed or 
praised it was always with rare discrimination and per- 
fect justice, and she was never impulsive or rash in her 
verdicts. 

There was a moment’s silence. A blackbird, evidently 
attracted by Mrs. Godfrey’s clear, resonant voice, had 
perched on the stone parapet beside them and watched 
them in bright-eyed curiosity. Then, as Malcolm moved 
his arm, it flew off, with clucking notes of warning, to 
rejoin its mate. 

“ I am rather troubled to hear you say this,” began 
Malcolm. “Will you tell me all you know about these 
people ?” 

“ That is just the difficulty,” returned Mrs. Godfrey 
slowly. “No one seems to know much about them. 
Even Mrs. Sinclair, who has taken them up so lately, 
knows scarcely anything of their antecedents. As far as 
I remember, Mrs. Sinclair asked me one dav if I were 

189 


190 


HERB OF GRACE 


not going to call on the Jacobis. ‘ They are perfectly 
charming/ were her words. ‘ They are a brother and a 
sister who have taken Beechcroft for the season. They 
seem wealthy people and live in good style, and Miss 
Jacobi is one of the handsomest women I have ever 
seen/ ’’ 

And this was all ?” as Mrs. Godfrey paused. 

“ It was all I could gather. Mr. Sinclair certainly told 
Alick that he understood that Mr. Jacobi had made his 
money in business — something connected with a mining 
company, .he believed. But no one seemed to know ex- 
actly, and the Jacobis are rather reticent about their own 
concerns. They seem to have a large visiting-list, and 
to know some big people.” 

‘‘ And Miss Jacobi called, here ?” 

“ Yes, Mrs. Sinclair brought her; but I confess I was 
somewhat embarrassed by the visit — it has placed me in 
an awkward predicament. I have no wish to make their 
acquaintance, but I cannot well be unneighbourly ; one 
meets them everywhere, so Alick tells me that I must get 
rid of my insular prejudices and leave our cards at Beech- 
croft.” 

“ It must be an awful nuisance,” replied Malcolm sym- 
pathetically. 

Oh, I don’t know ; Miss Jacobi is very civil and 
pleasant. She is rather a reserved sort of woman, but 
remarkably good-looking, and she dresses beautifully. I 
am afraid,” with a laugh, “ all you gentlemen will lose 
your hearts to her. Even Alick raves about her. He 
declares they must be Italian Jews, although they have 
lived in England and America all their lives. Miss Jacobi 
has certainly rather a Jewish type of face, and she has 
the clear olive complexion of the Italian. Well, you will 
see them for yourself on Sunday, for they are regular 
church-goers, though Mr. Jacobi’s behaviour during ser- 
vice is not always edifying^ They have seats near us, and 


‘‘ A TOUCH OF THE TARTAR” 191 

it irritates me dreadfully to see him lounging and yawn- 
ing while other people are saying their prayers.” 

“ Does Miss Jacobi lounge too?” in an amused tone. 

“ No, she behaves far better than her brother. I must 
confess to you, Mr. Herrick, that I am rather prejudiced 
against Mr. Jacobi. I do not like either his face or his 
manners ; his eyes are too close together, and this, in my 
opinion, gives him rather a crafty look; and in manner 
he is self-assertive and ostentatious.” 

” I know what you mean,” returned Malcolm with a 
laugh ; “ he spells me and mine with a capital M.” Mrs. 
Godfrey nodded. 

“ Mrs. Sinclair tells me that the brother and sister are 
devoted to each other, but that Miss Jacobi seems to defer 
to her brother's opinion in everything. But there, I have 
told you all I know, and you must find out the rest for 
vourself.” 

'' I shall keep my eyes open, I assure you,” was Mal- 
colm’s reply. And then he continued in a perplexed tone, 
“ How on earth did Cedric get hold of them?” But as 
Mrs. Godfrey could not answer this, Malcolm allowed 
the subject to drop. In his case forewarned was fore- 
armed, and but for his promise to Dinah and his very real 
concern for Cedric, he would have given the Jacobis a 
wide berth. 

It was only natural, however, that his curiosity should 
be strongly excited by this conversation, and when on the 
following morning they took their seats in church, his 
attention wandered at the sound of every footstep in the 
aisle. 

The service had commenced before the vacant seats 
near them were occupied. Malcolm had a momentary 
glimpse of a tall, graceful-looking figure, in soft, diaph- 
anous raiment, that seemed to pass them very swiftly; 
he even caught a strange, subtle fragrance that seemed 
to linger in the air; and then they all knelt down and 


192 


HERB OF GRACE 


Miss Jacobi buried her face in her hands, and her brother 
removed his lavender kid gloves with elaborate care as 
though Saul Jacobi had nothing in common with the rest 
of the miserable sinners. During the rest of the service 
Malcolm had plenty of opportunity for studying his 
physiognomy, for he turned round more than once and’ 
encountered Malcolm’s eyes. 

He was certainly handsome in his way. His features 
were good, though of the pronounced Jewish type; but 
his dark, brilliant eyes had a shifty look ip them — ^proba- 
bly, as Mrs. Godfrey suggested, from their being set a 
little closely together. In age he appeared to be between 
thirty and forty. 

He could see little of Miss Jacobi except the dark, 
glossy coil of hair under her hat; for during the entire 
service she was as motionless as a statue, and never once 
turned her face in Malcolm’s direction — even when her 
brother spoke to her she answered without looking at him. 
Whether Miss Jacobi was a devout worshipper or a mere 
automaton was not for him to judge ; she might have her 
own reasons for not joining in the singing. 

Colonel Godfrey was always a little fussy about his hat 
in church, and so it was that Malcolm and Mrs. Godfrey 
were still in their places when the Jacobis passed their 
pew. Malcolm seized his opportunity and looked well at 
Miss Jacobi, but she did not appear to notice him. 

She was certainly a most striking-looking woman. In- 
deed, Malcolm’s trained eye was obliged to confess that 
she was really beautiful. The features were perfect, and 
the clear olive complexion, just flushed with heat, was 
wonderfully effective, while the large, melancholy eyes 
were full of a strange, flashing light. 

“ What a superb creature !” was Malcolm’s first un- 
uttered thought. His second showed his keen insight — 
“ But it is not a happy face, and with all its beauty, there 
is no restfulness of expression.” 


A TOUCH OF THE TARTAR” 


193 


Colonel Godfrey was still brushing his hat in the 
anxious manner peculiar to the well-dressed Englishman 
when they reached the porch. To Malcolm’s surprise he 
saw Miss Jacobi and her brother in animated conversa- 
tion with a little group of ladies, made up of Etheridges 
and Sinclairs. Malcolm, who knew them all, was at 
once greeted as an old acquaintance, and, to Mrs. God- 
frey’s secret amusement, the Jacobis were introduced to 
him. Miss Jacobi bowed to him in rather a grave, re- 
served manner, but her brother shook hands with real or 
assumed cordiality. 

“ I am delighted to make your acquaintance, Mr. Her- 
rick,” he observed volubly. “We have a mutual friend, 
I believe. What a capital fellow Templeton is — charm- 
ing — charming ! We are going to put him up at our dig- 
gings for a few days;” and then before Malcolm could 
answer, some one tapped Mr. Jacobi on the shoulder and 
asked him a question, and Malcolm found himself beside 
Miss Jacobi. 

“ Mr. Templeton is an intimate friend of yours, is he 
not?” she asked carelessly. Her voice was very full and 
rich, but she spoke slowly, as though she were accustomed 
to weigh each word. It struck Malcolm that she listened 
with some intentness to his answer. 

“ Oh yes, we are very good friends,” he returned with 
studied indifference. 

“ Mr. Templeton is more demonstrative,” she said with 
a curiously grave smile that seemed habitual to her. “ He 
sings your praises, Mr. Herrick; you would be amused 
to hear him. It is so refreshing to find any one natural 
and unconventional in this world ; but he is so nice and 
frank — a nice boy,” with a low laugh that showed her 
white teeth. Mr. Jacobi turned round at the sound. 

“ Come, Leah,” he said impatiently ; “ the horses are 
tired of standing, and I want my luncheon.” Miss Jacobi 
bowed in rather a hurried fashion and at once rejoined 

13 


194 


HERB OF GRACE 


lier brother. Malcolm looked after the mail phaeton as 
it dashed down the road, but he made no response as Mr. 
Jacobi waved his whip to him in an airy fashion. 

“ Well, Mr. Herrick,” said Mrs. Godfrey quietly, “ I 
suppose I may ask your opinion now ?” 

“ I do not think I am anxious for a further acquaint- 
ance,” returned Malcolm grimly. “ The big M’s are too 
much in evidence for my taste. I suppose I am a bit of 
a misanthrope, but I hate to be hail-fellow-well-met with 
every one. Why, that fellow Jacobi actually patronised 
me, patted me on the back, don’t you know. He might 
have known me for six months.” 

“ I call that sort of thing bad form,” observed Colonel 
Godfrey. “ Jacobi is too smooth and plausible. My wife 
will have it that he is not a gentleman.” 

Oh, Alick, you ought not to have' repeated that.” 

“ Why not, my dear lady?” observed Malcolm. “ You 
are perfectly safe with me. I expect we think alike there. 
Somehow Jacobi has not the right cut.” 

“ But his sister is very ladylike,” murmured Mrs. God- 
frey, her kindly heart accusing her of censoriousness and 
want of charity. Both the gentlemen agreed to this. 
Then Malcolm, true to his character as a lover of the 
picturesque, launched into unrestrained praise of Miss 
Jacobi’s beauty. 

“ If my friend Keston were to see her,” he remarked, 
“ he would be wild to paint her as Rebekah at the well — 
or Ruth in the harvest-fields. One does not often see 
a face like Miss Jacobi’s.” And then after a little more 
talk they reached the Manor House. 

The following morning Malcolm spent on the river, 
and late in the afternoon they drove to Glebelands — 
where the Etheridges lived. 

The beautiful grounds sloping to the river presented 
a most animated scene. A band was playing, and a 
gaily-dressed crowd streamed from the house on to the 


TOUCH OF THE TARTAR’’ 


195 


lawn. Canoes, punts, and a tiny steam-launch were ready 
for any guests who wished to enjoy the river; and the 
croquet, archery, and tennis grounds were well filled. 

Tea and refreshments were served in a huge marquee 
just below the house. Malcolm, who met several people 
whom he knew, soon began to enjoy himself, and he 
was deep in conversation with a young artist when Miss 
Jacobi and her brother passed them ; she bowed to Mal- 
colm with rather a pleased smile of recognition. 

''What, do you know la belle Jacobi?” observed his 
friend enviously. " What a lucky fellow you are ! Look 
here, couldn’t you do a good turn for a chap and intro- 
duce me?” 

" My dear Rodney, I have not spoken a dozen words 
to Miss Jacobi myself. Get one of the Etheridge girls 
to do the job for you. You had better look sharp,” he 
continued, “ for there is quite a small crowd of men round 
her now and as Mr. Rodney speedily acted on this hint, 
Malcolm joined some more of his friends. 

Later in the afternoon, as he was listening to the band, 
he saw Miss Jacobi opposite to him; she had still a little 
court round her, and seemed talking with great anima- 
tion. She looked far handsomer than on the previous 
day, and her dress became her perfectly. She wore a 
cream-coloured transparent stuff over yellow silk, her 
Gainsborough hat was cream-colour and yellow too, and 
she carried a loosely-dropping posy of tea-roses, and two 
or three rosebuds of the same warm hue were nestled at 
her throat. The contrast of her dark eyes and hair and 
warm olive complexion was simply superb, and Malcolm 
secretly clapped his hands and murmured " bravo” under 
his breath. " She has the soul of the coquette and the 
artist too,” he said to himself. " Oh, woman, woman, 
surely Solomon had you in his thoughts when he de- 
clared ' All is vanity ;’ ” and then he remembered Eliza- 
beth Templeton and felt ashamed of his cynicism. 


196 


HERB OF GRACE 


The next moment he noticed the coast was clear, and 
obeying an involuntary impulse he crossed the lawn. 

Miss Jacobi welcomed him with a soft, flickering smile, 
but did not speak. 

“ Your court has deserted you, Miss Jacobi?” 

“ Not entirely,” she returned. Captain Fawcett has 
gone to fetch me an ice — it is so hot in the tent — and 
Mr. Dysart is looking for my fan; they will be back 
presently.” She spoke in rather a weary tone. 

“ Why do you stand here ?” he remonstrated. “ There 
is a vacant seat under that acacia, and you will hear the 
music quite well. There, let me take you to it; the 
afternoon is unusually warm, in spite of the river breeze.” 
Rather to his surprise, she bent her head in assent, in her 
queenly way, and he guided her to the cool retreat. 

“ Will you not sit down too ?” she asked in rather a 
hesitating manner, but there was no coquetry in her 
glance. Malcolm shook his head. 

“ I must look out for Dysart and the other man,” he 
observed, “ or they will think I have spirited you away. 
I am not the least tired. What a pretty scene it is. Miss 
Jacobi ! Look at those children dancing under the elm 
trees.” 

“ They seem very happy,” was her reply ; but there 
was a sad expression in Her eyes. “ Certainly childhood 
is the happiest time in one’s life. If it could only last for 
ever !” 

“ Are you sure you mean what you say ?’’ replied Mal- 
colm in a grave, argumentative tone. “ Remember it is 
the age of ignorance as well as innocence; with knowl- 
edge comes responsibility and the pains and penalties 
of life, nevertheless few of us desire to remain chil- 
dren.” 

I am one of the few,” she returned curtly. 

“ I cannot believe that,” and Malcolm smiled ; “ but I 
grant you that the best and highest natures have some- 


“ A TOUCH OF THE TARTAR’’ 197 

thing of the child in them. As Mencius says, ‘ The great 
man is he who does not lose his child’s heart.’ ” 

Miss Jacobi looked impressed. 

That is well said,” she replied softly. “ Mr. Herrick, 
I think your friend Mr. Templeton is rather like that: 
he is so young and fresh, it is delightful to listen to him. 
He is two-and-twenty, is he not? and he is such a boy.” 
She laughed an odd, constrained little laugh as she said 
this, and added in a curious undertone, “ And I am only 
nine-and-twenty, and I feel as though I were seventy. 
See what responsibilities and the pains and penalties of 
life do for a woman !” 

It was a strange speech, and a strange flash of the eye 
accompanied it; then her tone and manner suddenly 
changed, as a footstep in their vicinity reached her ear. 

“Saul, were you looking for me?” she said, starting 
from her seat. “ I was tired, so Mr. Herrick found me 
this nice shady place. I suppose it is time for us to go.” 

“ Well, we have a dinner-party on to-night,” returned 
her brother blandly, “ and it will hardly do for the hostess 
to be late. Wait a moment, Leah,” as she was about to 
take leave of Malcolm, “ I found Dysart hunting for 
your fan, so I told him I had it. It cost ten guineas, you 
remember,” in a meaning tone. Then Miss Jacobi flushed 
a little as she took it from his hand. 

“ I must have dropped it in the tent — there was such 
a crush,” she murmured. “ Good-bye, Mr. Herrick, I 
am much rested now.” 

“ Good-bye', Herrick,” observed Mr. Jacobi in a fa- 
miliar tone that grated on Malcolm ; “ we shall be very 
glad to see you at Beechcroft when young Templeton is 
with us. It is Telemachus and Mentor over again, is it 
not?” and here he broke into a little cackling laugh. 
“ Well, ta-ta. Come along, Leah ;” and taking his sister 
by the arm, Mr. Jacobi quickly crossed the lawn with her. 

“ He is a cad if ever a man was,” mused Malcolm as 


198 


'HERB OF GRACE 


he followed them slowly ; “ and if I do not mistake thei-e 
is a touch of the Tartar about him. She may be a de- 
voted sister, as Mrs. Sinclair observes, but she is afraid 
of him all the same. 

What a strange girl she seems,” he continued — 
woman rather, I should say ; for there is little of the 
girl about her. Somehow she interests me, and she puz- 
zles me too. She is so beautiful — why is she still Miss 
Jacobi?” He stood still for a minute to ponder over 
this mystery ; then he walked on very thoughtfully. “ I 
am a bit bothered about it all — I wish Cedric had never 
made their acquaintance;” and Malcolm looked so grave 
when he rejoined his friends that Mrs. Godfrey thought 
he was bored and hastened her adieux. 

Malcolm did not undeceive her, neither did he speak 
of the Jacobis again to her; but he made himself very 
pleasant all that evening, and the next day he left the 
Manor House. 


CHAPTER XX 


A WHITE SUN-BONNET 

My soul its secret hath, my life too hath its mystery : 

A love eternal in a moment’s space conceived. 

Aroers. 

One lovely morning in August, about a fortnight after 
the garden-party at Glebelands, Malcolm Herrick saun- 
tered slowly down the woodland path which the Temple- 
tons always called “ the lady’s mile.” His face was set 
towards Rotherwood, and in spite of his loitering pace 
there was an intent and watchful look in his eyes; but 
what his purpose or design might be was best known to 
himself ; for wonderful and devious are the ways of man, 
and who can fathom them? Presently a tempting tangle 
of honeysuckle attracted him, and he clambered up the 
bank in search of it. The bank was dry and slippery, and 
the honeysuckle was difficult to reach, but Malcolm was 
not to be conquered. He had just caught hold of the 
branch, when the far-off click of a gate attracted his at- 
tention, and still holding the branch he peeped cautiously 
through the brambles. 

The next minute a tall, massive young woman in a 
white sun-bonnet came into view — actually a white sun- 
bonnet, such as a milkmaid or farming wench might have 
worn; but this was no rustic lass who walked so briskly 
through the woodlands — none but Elizabeth Templeton 
moved with that free, graceful step, or carried her head 
in that queenly fashion. 

In his hiding-place Malcolm had a good view of her 
face. Her eyes were bright, and she had a soft smile 

199 


200 


HERB OF GRACE 


on her lips, as though some thought pleased her — 
some dream’s dream that seemed fair to her inward 
vision. 

“ Miss Templeton ” then Elizabeth gave a great 

start, and stood still and looked up at him. “ Wait a 
moment, please,” he continued hurriedly ; “ this branch 
is so tough and my knife is small. There, I have secured 
it;” and then, waving the festoon of honeysuckle tri- 
umphantly, he scrambled down the bank and stood beside 
her. 

Elizabeth shook hands with him rather gravely. 

So you have taken up your quarters at the Crow’s 
Nest,” she observed as they walked on together. 

“ Yes, I came down last evening, and settled in with 
all my goods and chattels. I thought I was in the Gar- 
den of Eden when I woke this morning and saw all those 
pink and white roses nid-nodding their beautiful heads 
at me.” 

“ Oh, I remember how the roses clambered into the 
room,” returned Elizabeth in an interested tone. 

“ Yes, and the birds seemed as though they wanted to 
get up a sort of Handel Festival, only the prima donnas 
and the big guns were missing. But there was plenty of 
twittering and bird chatter — I think they were settling 
the solos.” 

Elizabeth laughed — she was always amused at Mr. 
Herrick’s nonsense. 

I have begun by enjoying myself immensely,” he 
went on. “ I have eaten a record breakfast and smoked 
two pipes, and now I have picked all this honeysuckle and 
met you” — a slight emphasis on the last word. “ To tell 
you the truth, Miss Templeton” — and here he looked at 
her with a pleasant smile — “ the meeting was not purely 
accidental, I knew it was your morning for the schools.” 

“And you came to meet me?” Elizabeth’s manner 
stiffened; if Malcolm had been thin-skinned he might 


WHITE SUN-BONNET 201 

have suspected that she was not quite pleased at this 
avowal. 

'' Yes, I was anxious to meet you.'’ Malcolm spoke 
with quiet assurance. “ There is something I wanted to 
tell you — if I had waited to call at the Wood House this 
afternoon your sister would have been with you.” 

“ And it is something you do not wish her to hear ?” 
and Elizabeth’s slight frown vanished. 

“ Well, I thought it would be better to talk it over with 
you first. I have seen the Jacqbis, Miss Templeton, and 
I must confess that I am not favourably impressed by 
them.” 

Cedric is with them now,” exclaimed Elizabeth in 
rather a distressed voice. “ Dinah heard from him this 
morning; he is very happy, having a good old time, as 
he expresses it. He saw the Godfreys before they left for 
Scotland.” 

“ They have gone then — what a pity !” observed Mal- 
colm. Then Elizabeth looked at him inquiringly. 

“ You mean on Cedric’s account. Yes, I am sorry too. 
Will you tell me all you can about the Jacobis?” And 
then Malcolm, with masculine brevity and great distinct- 
ness, retailed his impressions of the brother and sister. 
Elizabeth’s face grew grave as she listened. 

“ Oh, I am sorry !” she exclaimed. “ What will poor 
Dinah say when I tell her; she is so anxious for Cedric 
to choose his friends well, and by your account Mr. Jacobi 
is certainly not a gentleman.” 

“ I thought perhaps you would keep this to yourself 
but Elizabeth shook her head. 

I dare not ; Cedric is her own boy, and I must hide 
nothing from her. There was only one thing I kept to 
myself, but then Cedric told it me’ in the strictest con- 
fidence. Mr. Herrick, it is an absurd question, for Cedric 
is such a boy — but is not Miss Jacobi likely to be the 
attraction? You say she is so handsome.” 


202 


HERB OF GRACE 


“ I might go farther and say she is a beautiful woman,” 
returned Malcolm. “ But tastes differ, you know ; I 
admire Miss Jacobi as I should a picture or a statue, but 
I could not imagine falling in love with her.” 

“ Indeed ! I am rather surprised to hear you say that ; 
I thought you were a lover of the picturesque.” Eliza- 
beth’s tone was a little teasing. 

I do not deny the soft impeachment,” replied Mal- 
colm somewhat seriously ; “ but moral beauty and the 
loveliness of a well-balanced character outweigh, in my 
estimation, mere outward beauty. Miss Jacobi is a 
stranger to me certainly, but in my opinion there is some- 
thing complex and mysterious in her personality; there 
are hard lines in her face, and her expression is at once 
cynical and unhappy. One could pity such a woman,” 
continued Malcolm to himself, “ but one would never, 
never yearn to take her to one’s heart.” 

Elizabeth looked at him curiously, as though she under- 
stood this unspoken speech ; and when she spoke again it 
was with a new and added friendliness. 

You are a good judge of character, Mr. Herrick, 
and I feel I can rely on your opinion. If only the God- 
freys were at the Manor House !” 

“ You forget that Beechcroft is at Henley,” he ob- 
served with a smile. 

Oh no, I have not forgotten, but I was thinking that 
I might have gone down to spy out the land for myself. 
Of course it would have vexed Cedric, but I should have 
done it all the same. Well, there is nothing for it but 
patience. By the bye, Mr. Herrick, we have fixed the 
date of the Templeton Bean-feast; Cedric will have to 
come back for that.” 

‘'Do you think he would care to bring his friends?” 
he asked in rather a meaning tone. Then at this daring 
suggestion Elizabeth’s eyes opened widely. 

“ Do you think that would be wise, that it might not 


WHITE SUN-BONNET 


203 


complicate matters and increase the intimacy?” Eliza- 
beth put this question with manifest anxiety. “We have 
no desire to have the Jacobis on our visiting-list.” 

“ Of course not,” was Malcolm’s answer, “ you know 
I never meant that; but it would give you and Miss 
Templeton an opportunity of studying them, and it could 
be managed without difficulty.” 

“ I wish you would tell me how. I suppose we should 
have to send Miss Jacobi a card of invitation?” 

“No, I think not — at least not at first. Tell Cedric 
that he may have carte blanche for his friends, and leave 
him to follow up the hint. He will answer by return, and 
tell you that he has asked the Jacobis, and then the card 
can be sent.” 

“ Yes, I see ; it is a good idea. I will talk to Dinah, 
but thank you all the same for your suggestion. I am 
quite ashamed of bothering you about our concerns; I 
fear we trespass on your good-nature.” 

“ Not at all,” returned Malcolm easily. “ I was going 
to ask your advice about a little protegee of my own;” 
and then Elizabeth lent a willing ear while Malcolm, in 
his best style, told the story of little Kit. 

They had turned in at the gate of the Wood House by 
this time, and the dark firs stretched on either side. 
Elizabeth had taken off her sun-bonnet, and it dangled 
from her arm ; her eyes were soft with womanly sym- 
pathy; never had the charm of her personality appealed 
so strongly to Malcolm, he scarcely dared to look at her 
for fear she should discover the truth. “ It is too soon, 
she would not believe it,” he said to himself. But as he 
talked his voice was strangely vibrant and full of feeling ; 
and when the sun-bonnet brushed lightly against him he 
was conscious that his arm trembled. 

But Elizabeth was too much occupied with little Kit 
to notice Malcolm’s slight discomposure. 

“ Oh, I am so glad you told me,” she said in her eager 


204 


HERB OF GRACE 


way. “ I really think I shall be able to help you. There 
is the dearest old woman in the village, Mrs. Sullivan. 
She lives in a pretty cottage quite close to \ The Plough,’ 
and she was only telling me the other day that she wished 
that she had another child to mother. “ Sometimes my 
sister and I have’ a little East-end waif and stray down 
for a few weeks in the summer,” continued Elizabeth 
modestly — “ some sick child, or occasionally some over- 
burdened worker, and we always lodge them at Mrs. 
Sullivan’s. It is not much of a place, but we call it ‘ The 
Providence House;’ the cottage is really our own prop- 
erty, and Mrs. Sullivan has it rent-free.” 

‘‘ Do you think that she would take care of Kit ?” 

“ I am sure of it. But, Mr. Herrick, Kit must be our 
guest, please remember that. Hush,” peremptorily, “ I 
will not hear a word to the contrary. And there is some- 
thing else I want to say. Would not Caleb Martin like to 
come too ? Kit would be strange without him, and there 
is plenty of room for them both. Think what a month of 
this sweet country air would mean to him after Todmor- 
den’s Lane. You must write to him at once, and tell him 
to hurry Kit down.” 

I think it would be better to go up and speak to him 
myself to-morrow morning,” returned Malcolm. He 
spoke rather reluctantly, but the beaming look of ap- 
proval that followed this speech rewarded him for the 
little sacrifice. 

“ Now I call that kind,” returned Elizabeth warmly. 
“Very few people would take so much trouble for a 
shabby little cobbler and an ailing child,” she thought. 
“ How pleased Dinah will be when she hears about 
it.” 

“ The kindness is on your part. Miss Templeton,” re- 
turned Malcolm. But he was much gratified by her 
manner. “If Kit and her father are to be your guests 
there is little enough for me to do ; when I spoke to you 


WHITE SUN-BONNET 


205 

just now I had quite decided to take lodgings for them 
at Rotherwood/' 

‘‘ Kit is my guest,” replied Elizabeth obstinately. 

Now, will you come in, Mr. Herrick, and have luncheon 
with us ?” But Malcolm declined this ; he would look in 
later in the day and pay his respects to Miss Templeton ; 
and then he lifted his hat and turned away. Elizabeth 
stood in the porch and watched him. “ He is a good 
man,” she said softly, “ and I like him — I like him very 
much ;” but she sighed a little heavily as she turned away. 

Meanwhile Malcolm was saying to himself in his whim- 
sical way, “ It is my destiny — is it not written in the 
book of fate? The Parcse Sisters three have willed it so. 
Good heavens, what an enigma life is ! Some winged in- 
sect whirling in a cyclone would have as much chance of 
escaping its doom as a human being under such circum- 
stances.” Then he stopped, and looked with blank, un- 
seeing eyes down the slanting fir avenue. It is a mys - 
tery,” he went on — “ the very mystery of mysteries ; the 
Sphinx is nothing to it. A month ago we were strangers 
— I neither knew nor cared that such a person as Eliza- 
beth Templeton existed; and a week — a little cycle of 
seven or eight nights and days — has wrought this won- 
drous change. Am I the same man? Is this the solid 
earth on which I am walking?” And then he gave an 
odd sort of laugh, which seemed to hurt him. “ My 
God,” he muttered, “ how I love this woman !” and his 
head was bowed as he walked on. 

The following afternoon, when Malcolm returned from 
his charitable errand to Todmorden’s Lane, he saw the 
Keston family grouped on the shady patch of lawn in the 
front garden. Verity, who had Babs in her arms, flew 
to meet him; but Amias merely waved his pipe and 
grunted in an amicable fashion. 

“ Oh, how tired and dusty you look !” exclaimed Verity, 
in the pretty, maternal way that always sat so quaintly 


2o6 


HERB OF GRACE 


on her. “ Look at him, Amias ; I do believe he has 
walked all those miles from Earlsfield.’’ 

“ Yea- Verily, you are right, child,” returned the giant 
placidly; and then Verity put down Babs on the grass 
to sprawl among the daisies. 

“ Sit down,” she said, pushing Malcolm with her tiny 
hands into a big hammock chair ; “ I am going to make 
you some fresh tea — iced lemonade is out of the ques- 
tion;” and then she flitted into the house on her usual 
errand of hunting the Snark.” 

Malcolm was certainly tired; he had been unable to 
get a fly at Earlsfield, and the long climb in the heat had 
rather taken it out of him, so he was well content to lie 
back in his lounge and let Verity wait on him. 

We have had visitors,” she observed presently; then 
Malcolm looked up quickly. 

“ The ladies from the Wood House,” she continued. 
“ They were here for quite an hour. You are right, Mr. 
Herrick, the eldest Miss Templeton is a perfect darling. 
Amias was just saying as you turned the corner that he 
would like to paint her as a Puritan lady ; the dress would 
exactly suit her.” 

“ She has a very sweet face,” endorsed Amias, “ and 
her manners are remarkably pleasing. Yea- Verily fell 
in love with her because she admired Babs. ‘ Love me, 
love my Babs," don’t you know !” 

Don’t be a goose, Amias ! He was as much pleased 
as I was, Mr. Herrick, when Miss Templeton kissed Baby 
and made much of her; she said the sweetest things to 
her, and Babs was so charmed that she actually put up her 
face and kissed her of her own accord.” 

The other Miss Templeton is a striking-looking 
woman of rather uncommon type,” observed Amias, 
blowing away a cloud of smoke rather lazily. “ She made 
herself very pleasant too, and said all sorts of civil 
things.” 


WHITE SUN-BONNET 


207 


“ I thought her rather formidable at first,” annotated 
Verity, “but I soon discovered that she was interesting; 
she is very bright and original, and we soon got on very 
nicely together. 

“ By the bye, Mr. Herrick, they want us all to dine at 
the Wood House to-morrow ; it is to be a comfortable, 
informal sort of meal. I told Miss Templeton that I had 
no company manners, as I had lived all my life in Bo- 
hemia; and then Miss Elizabeth laughed, and said she 
was rather unconventional herself, and that she thought 
I should exactly suit them.” 

“ I told you so,” responded Malcolm in a low voice. 
“ I suppose there will be no other guests ?” 

“ Only the Carlyons,” returned Verity. “ Mr. Carlyon 
is the curate at Rotherwood, Miss Templeton told us, 
and just now his father is staying with him.” 

“ Oh, Carlyon junior seems always on the premises,” 
replied Malcolm carelessly ; “ he is a sort of tame cat. 
Well, I am off to the Garden of Eden now.” But as he 
stood by his window the nodding roses turned their pink 
cheeks to him in vain, and wasted their sweetness on the 
desert air. 

“ He is always there,” he muttered ; “ one is never 
free from him. Perhaps it is her goodness of heart, she 
is so kind to every one, and he is her clergyman. Of 
course it must be that.” He frowned and sighed im- 
patiently; but as he turned away he saw the sprays of 
honeysuckle that he had gathered the previous day lay 
on the window-sill forgotten and neglected, with all the 
beautiful creamy blossoms withered and dead. 


CHAPTER XXr 


“ IF I WERE ONLY LIKE YOU V 

Who, seeking for himself alone, ever entered heaven? In 
blessing we are blest. — C. Seymour. 

There is no separation — no Past; Eternity, the Now is con- 
tinuous. . . . The continuity of Now is for ever. — Richard Jef- 
feries. 

The party from the Crow’s Nest were somewhat late 
in arriving the following evening. Verity made her ex- 
cuses very prettily. 

“ It was all darling Babs’s fault,” she said to Miss 
Templeton ; she would play instead of going to sleep. 
Mr. Herrick lost patience at last, and declared he would 
go on alone.” 

I must take my god-daughter in hand, or she will be 
ruined body and soul,” observed Malcolm severely. 

Babs is already a domestic tyrant, and screams the 
house down if any of her fads and fancies are resisted. 
I am thinking of writing a series of essays on degenerate 
and irresponsible parents, and the cruelty of modern edu- 
cation in the nursery, which out-Herods Herod.” Of 
course they all laughed at this idea, and then David Carl- 
yon crossed the room to shake hands with Malcolm and 
to introduce his father. 

The two men were curiously alike. The Rev. Rupert 
Carlyon was an older, shabbier, and more careworn 
David; but there was the same broad, intellectual brow, 
the same bright intelligence of expression, and their 
voices were so strangely similar that if Malcolm had 
closed his eyes he could not have distinguished between 
them; they both spoke with the same quickness, and 
in the same clipping fashion. 

208 


IF I WERE ONLY LIKE YOU! 


20Q 


Malcolm noticed before the evening was over that 
David Carlyon looked unusually pale and tired, though 
he seemed in excellent spirits. Dinah made the same 
remark to his father. 

Oh, I have been giving that boy of mine a lecture,’’ 
he said quickly ; “ he is a perfect spendthrift and prodigal 
with regard to the midnight oil, and burns both ends of 
his candle in the most reckless fashion.” 

'' I should not have thought a sleepy little place like 
Rotherwood would have overtaxed his energies,” ob- 
served Malcolm in rather a surprised tone. 

The elder man shook his head. 

“ There is always work enough if one looks for it. 
My son is a sort of medical missionary in his way, and 
concerns himself with the bodies as well as the souls of 
his people. The last two nights he has been up until 
nearly dawn with a stranger — a sort of commercial travel- 
ler who has been taken ill at ' The Plough.’ It is a sad 
case; he is quite a young man, and our doctor fears that 
he will not pull through.” But Mr. Carlyon forbore to 
state the fact that each night he had relieved his son, 
rising from his bed in the gray pearly dawn, before the 
first bird-twitter was heard, to take his watch beside the 
fever-stricken stranger. The Carlyons were men whose 
left hand did not know what their right hand did, and 
the Rev. Rupert Carlyon’s ministry had been a record of 
humble, unobtrusive acts of good-will and kindness to 
man, woman, and child; nay, the very dumb animals 
knew their friend, and would come to him for protec- 
tion. 

The Carlyons took their leave soon after this. Eliza- 
beth walked down to the gate with them. Malcolm 
thought she looked rather grave when she returned, as 
though something troubled her, but she would not hear 
of the party breaking up, and promised Malcolm that 
she would sing all his favourite songs to his friends, and 

14 


210 


HERB OF GRACE 


she kept her word. Malcolm sat in a trance of beatitude 
while the beautiful voice floated out into the darkness, 
startling some night-bird in the copse; and Verity’s eyes 
were wet, and she stole closer to her husband, for it 
seemed to her as though the shadows from the old life 
were creeping round her; and unseen by any one but 
Dinah, she leant her cheek against Amias’s hand. 

“Oh, how can you sing like that!” exclaimed Verity 
in her naive way, when Elizabeth joined them on the 
terrace. “ You sing right down into people’s hearts. Oh, 
I felt so sad, and then so happy, and the world did not 
seem wide enough to contain me.” 

“ You must not flatter me,” returned Elizabeth, but 
she was evidently gratified. Then she turned her head 
to Malcolm, who was behind her, and said in an under- 
tone, “ You were quite right, the Jacobis are coming to 
our party. I have sent them a card this afternoon.” 

“ I hope Miss Templeton approved of my suggestion?” 

“ Yes, she thought with you that it would be an ex- 
cellent opportunity of taking stock of the enemy. And 
Cedric was so pleased. Mr. Herrick,” she continued, as 
they walked down the terrace, “ I must tell you that we 
are charmed with Mrs. Keston. She is a dear little 
thing, and so fascinating and original, and she looks 
really pretty to-night.” 

“ No, she is not pretty,” returned Malcolm, “ but her 
dress becomes her. We call it Keston’s chef d^ceuvre. 
He always designs her gowns. He is very aesthetic in 
his tastes, and he knows exactly what suits her. If Verity 
were left to her own devices, she would be very crude and 
unfinished.” 

“ He is very proud of her,” observed Elizabeth. “ It 
is good to see two such happy people. We like them 
immensely, and shall hope to see a great deal of them;” 
and Malcolm was so elated by these encomiums on his 
friends, and by Elizabeth’s gracious friendliness, that he 


^‘IF I WERE ONLY LIKE YOU! 


2II 


actually suggested that she should walk down the drive 
with them; but to his secret chagrin she made some 
excuse. 

Half an hour later she entered her sister’s room. 
Dinah was reading as usual, with her little green lamp 
beside her ; but she closed her book and looked up at her 
inquiringly. 

What is it, Betty ?” she said gently. “ Something has 
been troubling you to-night.” Then Elizabeth turned 
aside her face for a moment, but she was not regarding 
herself in the great mirror. “ It concerns David,” con- 
tinued Dinah calmly. Then Elizabeth gave vent to a 
heavy sigh. 

“ Yes, it concerns David,” she returned. I have been 
talking to him, oh so seriously, and to his father too; 
but it is no use. They will let me do nothing to help 
them. I wanted to send in a night nurse, but they will 
have it that it is not necessary. Old Mrs. Roper takes 
care of the patient by day, and it is only the night.” 

But, Betty dear, surely David Carlyon is not going 
there again to-night ?” 

“ Indeed he is,” very sadly. I heard them arranging 
it this afternoon. Mr. Carlyon is to relieve him at three. 
He was so tired that he could scarcely eat his dinner, and 
he told me that he dared not stay for the music, as I 
should certainly sing him to sleep. Die,” in rather a 
choked voice, “ it is not right. He will kill himself if he 
goes on like this.” 

It was evident that Elizabeth was in a depressed mood ; 
perhaps she was tired too. Dinah, who knew her well, 
quite understood her. 

Don’t worry, Betty,” she said kindly. “ David Carl- 
yon is young enough and strong enough to bear the loss 
of a few nights’ rest, and the fever is not infectious. By 
all accounts the pwDor fellow cannot last many days. To- 
morrow I will go over to the White Cottage and talk to 


212 


HERB OF GRACE 


them both. I shall tell David tTiat he has no right to 
let his father work so hard during his holiday.” 

“ Tell him we know such a nice woman, Die,” and 
Dinah promised that she would do her very best. But 
Elizabeth had not wholly eased her mind ; she stood look- 
ing at her sister rather doubtfully, and then she said 
abruptly — 

“ Die, there is something I want to ask you. You 
heard from Douglas Fraser this morning, did you not?” 
Then a faint colour came to Dinah’s pale cheeks. 

“Were you afraid to ask me that before, my dear?” 
she said with a smile. “ But it was my fault ; I ought 
to have told you — this sort of question is not easy even 
for a sister to ask. Yes, Douglas wrote and Agnes too. 
Dear little Lettice is so much better. He thinks she will 
pull through now, thank God ! but they nearly lost her.” 

“ Was it so bad as that. Die?” in an awed tone. 

“ Yes, it has been a terrible illness. They have nurses, 
of course, but poor Agnes is almost worn out. She is 
their only girl, and Douglas does so doat on her. He has 
suffered so — one can read it in every word,” and Dinah’s 
voice shook a little. 

Perhaps it needed only that to bring Elizabeth’s emo- 
tion to a culminating point, for to Dinah’s surprise she 
suddenly knelt down and put her arms round her and 
the tears were running down her face. 

“ Oh, Die, stop ! I cannot bear to hear you — it pains 
me so — it pains me all over !” 

“ My darling Bet ! Oh, you foolish, foolish Betty !” 
But Elizabeth was not to be soothed so easily. 

“ That is why I never mention his name. I try to 
pretend sometimes that I do not see his handwriting. Oh, 
Die,” caressing her, “ how can any woman be such an 
angel ! It is not natural. In your place, under your cir- 
cumstances, I would never have seen him again.” 

“ Dear Elizabeth,” returned Dinah quietly, but her face 


“IF I WERE ONLY LIKE YOU! 


213 


had grown very white, “ you must surely remember that 
we never met — never thought of meeting — until dear 
Agnes herself brought us together. Don’t you recollect 
how sweetly she wrote and begged me to be their friend. 
She said that it would make him happier, and herself too 
— that she never wished him to forget me; that it was 
through my influence that he had been brought right and 
that they were no longer divided in faith. Oh, Betty, I 
was a happy woman the day I got that letter, and I have 
been a happy woman since. ‘ Through pain to peace,’ ” 
she went on softly, “ I should like those words to be in- 
scribed on my tombstone. To think of the terror and the 
struggle, the buffeting of all those cruel waves and bil- 
lows, and then to see land at last I Dearest, how you cry I 
You will make me cry too, and I have been singing a Te 
Deum in my heart all day for dear Lettice’s sake.” Then 
Elizabeth tried to control her sobs. 

“ Die, I am quite ashamed of myself. I cannot think 
what has come to me. Think of a woman of thirty blub- 
bering like a little school-girl I It is not like me, is it, 
dear? but my heart feels as heavy as lead to-night. 
Things are going wrong somehow, or is it my fancy?” 
And then she said a little wildly, “ Oh, my darling, if I 
were only like you !” 

“ Like me I Oh no, Elizabeth,” for Dinah’s humility 
could ill brook this speech. 

“ But it is no use — I could never reach you. I am so 
human — a passionate, self-willed woman, who wants her 
own way in everything; and you, oh. Die, you are miles 
above me. That is why I love you so — I love you so I” 

“ Not more than I love you,” returned her sister ten- 
derly. “ Dear Elizabeth, it is only your generosity that 
makes you say this, but it is not true. I wish I knew 
what has upset you so to-night.” But Elizabeth made no 
reply to this; the friendship between the sisters was so 
perfect that speech did not always seem necessary. When 


214 


HERB OF GRACE 


Elizabeth remained silent, Dinah did not repeat her ques- 
tion. 

Elizabeth had seated herself on the cushioned win- 
dow-seat close to Dinah’s chair. The little green lamp 
had been extinguished, and the room was bathed in moon- 
light. Down below were the dark woodlands. “ Let me 
stay for a little while,” Elizabeth had whispered, and then 
they had both remained silent. 

Dinah felt perplexed and troubled by her sister’s un- 
usual emotion. Elizabeth’s strong, healthy nature was 
never morbid; her temperament was even and sunshiny, 
and a depressed mood was a rare thing with her. 

Dinah’s sweet serenity was vaguely disturbed, and the 
quiet tears gathered in her eyes. Silence was good for 
both of them, she thought. When one has lived through 
a great pain, and by God’s grace has conquered, it is 
better to bury the dead past. Elizabeth’s passionate in- 
credulity, the difficulty she felt in understanding her 
sister’s motives, her exaggerated praise, made Dinah 
wince in positive pain. How could human love misjudge 
her so! Did not even her nearest and dearest — her own 
sister-friend — know how often she had striven and failed 
and fainted under that hard cross that had been laid upon 
her? 

And in truth few women had suffered as Dinah had in 
the sweet blossom of her early womanhood, and more 
than once she had been very near the gates of the dark 
valley whose shadow is the shadow of death. 

H6w she had gloried in her lover — her “ Douglas — 
Douglas, tender and true,” as she had called him to her- 
self — in his great intellect and his strong man’s heart, 
in the plan and purpose of his life, with its scientific re- 
search and its passionate love of truth 1 

And then that awful struggle between her affection 
and her sense of right, the doubts and terrors, the wakeful 
nights and joyless days, the vast blank of life that 


‘^IF I WERE ONLY LIKE YOU!” 215 

stretched before her poor eyes, half-blind with their 
woman’s weeping. 

“ O Galilaean, Thou hast conquered,” were the words 
that came to her when the crucial test had been passed, 
and she had parted with her beloved. 

Those were sad days at the Wood House, and there 
were sadder days still at Rome; but she lived through 
them, and Elizabeth helped her; and so by and bye the 
light of a new dawn — a little gray and misty perhaps, 
but still dawn — opened before Dinah’s tired eyes. 

“ I loved much and I prayed much, and God answered 
my prayers,” she said long afterwards. 

But the wound was wide and deep and healed slowly, 
and it was not until Douglas Fraser had married a noble- 
hearted and beautiful woman, whom he called his Lady 
of Consolation, that Dinah recovered a measure of her 
former cheerfulness. But the day she heard that he was 
no longer an agnostic was always kept by her as a festival. 
Then indeed the cup of her pure joy seemed full to the 
very brim. 

He had come right, and now all was well with him 
and with her too. Pain and loss had been his teachers, 
and great indeed was her reward. 

“ It was your renunciation and sacrifice that first 
opened my eyes,” he wrote. “ I know now how rightly 
you acted. If I had married you then — if my entreaties 
had prevailed — I should never have made you happy. My 
dear Agnes has taught me this.” And this cherished 
letter was Dinah’s treasure. 

She and Dr. Fraser seldom met — not more than once a 
year — but from time to time he wrote to her, and his 
wife and children were very dear to her. 

'' I cannot understand it,” Elizabeth had more than 
once said. But Dinah could furnish no explanation : she 
only knew that it was so — that her life was a happy one, 
and that she asked for nothing more. 


2i6 


HERB OF GRACE 


Douglas and his wife were her dearest friends, and 
Lettice, her sweet god-daughter, ranked next to Cedric 
in her heart. 

With so many to love, how could life fail to satisfy 
her ! “ And it so short — so short,” she would say to 

herself. One sees so little of one’s friends here ; but 
one will have plenty of time to enjoy them in Paradise.” 

Continuity of life — continuity of love, this was Dinah’s 
simple creed, but it kept her young and happy. 

“ Dinah has the secret of perpetual youth,” Elizabeth 
would say to her friend Mrs. Godfrey ; but she generally 
ended with a sigh, “ If only I were like her !” 


CHAPTER XXII 


TWO MAIDEN LADIES OF UNCERTAIN AGE^’ 

How poor a thing is man ! Alas, ’tis true ; 

I’d half forget it when I chanced on you ! 

Schiller. 

Thy clothes are all the soul thou hast. — Beaumont and 
Fletcher. 

The day of the Templeton’s garden fete was as bright 
and cloudless as the heart of man or woman could desire. 
Verity, who had dressed herself at an unconscionably 
early hour, sat at an upper window with Babs in her arms, 
watching brakes and carriages drive past, filled with gaily 
attired people. Malcolm had issued his sovereign man- 
date that they must not be amongst the earliest arrivals, 
and Verity panted with impatience long before she could 
induce her household tyrants to lay aside pipe and ciga- 
rette. 

Malcolm was not in a festive mood. He had spent his 
morning restlessly, pacing up and down the woodlands, 
with an unread book under his arm. He was secretly 
chafed and even a little hurt that neither of the sisters 
had needed his help. He had dropped more than one hint 
on the previous day, when some errand took him to the 
Wood House, and he found Elizabeth looking heated and 
tired, superintending the removal of some furniture. 

“ You might make use of an idle man,” he had said 
half- jestingly. I assure you that I am a complete Jack- 
of-all-trades, and I don’t mind ‘ a scrow,’ as old Nurse 
Dawson calls it.” But though Elizabeth smiled, she did 
not avail herself of this friendly offer ; but it was Dinah 
who gave him the real explanation. 

“ Oh, thank you, Mr. Herrick,” she had returned grate- 

217 


2i8 


HERB OF GRACE 


fully ; “ we should have been so glad of your help, only 
David Carlyon and his father are doing all we want. 
Mr. Carlyon is so useful, and David spends all his spare 
time with us.” 

“ David” — in a pondering voice. And Dinah blushed 
as if she had been guilty of an indiscretion. 

“ Oh, we only call him that in order to distinguish him 
from his father — the two Carlyons are so puzzling ; but 
he is an old and a very dear friend, and at my age it does 
not matter,” finished Dinah with her charming smile. 

Malcolm had to content himself with this explanation. 
They were old friends. Yes, of course, and he was a 
comparatively new one. He expected too much; his de- 
mands were unreasonable. Nevertheless Malcolm felt a 
pang of envy when he saw David Carlyon tearing breath- 
lessly through the woodlands with his arms full of 
greenery from the vicarage garden, and whistling like a 
schoolboy. 

When at last Malcolm and his friends turned in at 
the gates of the Wood House that afternoon, they could 
hear the band playing in the distance. A group of village 
children were gathered in the road ; empty carriages 
passed them; a smart dog-cart, with four young men, 
rattled down the drive ; and through the openings in the 
trees the gleam of white dresses looked silvery in the 
sunlight. 

Miss Templeton was standing in the porch to receive 
her guests. Elizabeth had only just left her, she said, 
to arrange the tennis tournament. And then, as more 
guests were arriving, Malcolm left her. The next mo- 
ment he came upon Cedric ; he was looking rather bored 
and disconsolate. He lighted up, however, at the sight of 
his friend. 

“ Here you are at last,” he grumbled. “ I have been 
looking all over the place for you. I came down with 
a lot of our fellows, but Betty has paired them all oif for 


“ TWO LADIES OF UNCERTAIN AGE” 219 


tennis. There are the Kestons, I must go and speak to 
them.” But Malcolm had him by the arm. 

“Wait a moment; ‘“no hurry!” said the Carpenter.’ 
I suppose you brought the Jacobis with you.” Then 
Cedric’s face clouded again. 

“ Oh, Jacobi came right enough — there he is, talking to 
David — but Miss Jacobi had a bad sick headache, and he 
would not let her come.” 

“ I am sorry to hear that,” returned Malcolm ; and he 
was sorry, for his cleverly-devised plan had been frus- 
trated. 

“ She was sorry too, poor girl,” went on Cedric in a 
vexed voice. “ She had been so looking forward to the 
Bean-feast ever since Betty’s invitation arrived. It is my 
belief that Jacobi is to blame for the whole thing, for he 
was rowing her in her room like anything last night. I 
could hear them through the ceiling going it like hammer 
and tongs.” 

“ Do you mean to tell me that Miss Jacobi and her 
brother quarrel?” asked Malcolm in a disgusted voice. 
Then Cedric looked as if he had said more than he in- 
tended. 

“ No, not quarrel,” rather hesitatingly. “ It takes two 
to do that, you know, and Leah — Miss Jacobi, I mean,” 
biting his lip — “ is much too fond of her brother to quar- 
rel with him ; but Jacobi has a temper, you see.” 

“ Oh, he has a temper, has he ?” 

“ Well, lots of people have, if you come to that,” re- 
turned Cedric, who evidently repented his frankness. 
“ Jacobi is a decent fellow, but he is hot and peppery, and 
when things go crooked he lashes out a bit. Something 
must have vexed him last night, for he came into the 
drawing-room looking very much put out. Miss Jacobi 
had just gone upstairs, and he went after her at once.” 

“ And then they quarrelled ?” 

“ Well, not quarrelled exactly ; but there was a good 


220 


HERB OF GRACE 


deal of talking, don’t you know. He kept her up late, and 
bothered her, and then she got a headache.” But Cedric 
forbore to tell his friend that he had been so perturbed 
by the sound of Saul Jacobi’s angry voice that he had 
stolen down the stairs to the passage below. How long 
he stood there transfixed with fear and pity it was im- 
possible to say. No words reached him — only the harsh, 
vibrant tones of Saul Jacobi’s voice and Leah’s low, 
piteous sobbing. 

He might have stood there until morning, but the door 
suddenly unlatched, and he had only just time to steal 
away; but before he could enter his room a few words 
did reach him. 

“ Oh, Saul, please do not leave me like this. Don’t I 
always do as you wish; only — only I thought you ap- 
proved ; that — that ” but here sobs choked her voice. 

“ What is the use of turning on the waterworks like 
this ?” muttered her brother angrily. “ What fools you 
women are ! A boy like that too !” 

“ But, Saul, Saul ” 

“ Yes, I know,” sulkily. I have not changed my 
mind, but I mean to have my way about to-morrow all 
the same. If you had been sensible I would have told 
you my reasons; but you chose to aggravate me, and I 
said a precious lot more than I meant. There, go to 
sleep and forget it” — evidently a rough attempt to be 
conciliatory; but Leah’s sad and weary face told its own 
tale the next morning. 

Malcolm did not ask any more questions, and after a 
few more casual remarks Cedric went off in search of the 
Kestons, and Malcolm sauntered across the lawn, looking 
at the various groups in the hope of seeing Elizabeth’s 
tall figure. 

Presently he came upon Mr. Jacobi. He was standing 
by the sun-dial, looking smart and well-groomed in his 
frock-coat, and a rare orchid in his button-hole. He was 


TWO LADIES OF UNCERTAIN AGE” 221 


contemplating the house with fixed attention. A sudden 
impulse made Malcolm join him. Mr. Jacobi greeted him 
with his usual affability, and then, as though by mutual 
consent, they strolled together in the direction of the 
rustic bridge. 

“ Nice sleepy old place this,” observed Mr. Jacobi con- 
descendingly. “ Seems as though it had been in existence 
for a hundred years at least. Do you know how long it 
has belonged to the Templetons?” 

“ No, I have no idea,” returned Malcolm stiffly, for he 
resented the question. “ What a perfect day it is ! I am 
sorry to hear from Templeton that your sister is indis- 
posed.” 

Mr. Jacobi’s eyes narrowed a little; he looked rather 
sharply at Malcolm. 

Oh, Templeton told you that. Nice fellow — as good 
a specimen of a young Briton as ever I wish to see; sen- 
sible too, and a good companion. Yes, my sister is a bit 
seedy — a bad sick headache, nothing more. It is in our 
family; my mother had them, and Leah takes after her. 
It is hard lines, poor old girl,” continued Mr. Jacobi in a 
feeling tone, “ for she was longing to make the Misses 
Templeton’s acquaintance.” 

Malcolm returned a civil answer, and Mr. Jacobi con- 
tinued — 

Templeton is a lucky fellow, between you and me 
and the post,” in a jocular tone. “ It must be a good 
thing for him that his sisters have set their faces against 
matrimony. Nice-looking women, both of them, but in 
my humble opinion MJss Elizabeth is the most attractive. 
Templeton let out to Leah the other day that she could 
have married a dozen times over if she had wished to do 
so, only she vowed she was cut out for an old maid.” 

'' I don’t suppose he knows anything about it,” returned 
Malcolm, feeling this speech was in the worst possible 
form. It revolted him to hear this man even mention 


222 


HERB OF GRACE 


Elizabeth’s name — he would give him no encouragement ; 
but Saul Jacobi, who could be dense when he chose, did 
not drop the subject. 

“ It is rather a big place for two maiden ladies of un- 
certain age,” he remarked blandly; but this speech irri- 
tated Malcolm beyond endurance. 

‘‘ There is nothing uncertain about the second Miss 
Templeton’s age,” he said impatiently; “she is still a 
young woman.” Then it struck him that Mr. Jacobi 
looked a trifle crestfallen. 

“Young, do you call her? Oh no, very mature and 
sedate, like a middle-aged woman. Gyp Campion told 
me as a fact — do you know Gyp? he is in the Hussars, 
and a tiptop swell in the bargain — well. Gyp let out that 
his brother Owen had proposed to Miss Elizabeth Tem- 
pleton years ago at Alassio.” 

“ Oh, I daresay,” indifferently. “ I think I must go back 
to the house now ;” it cost Malcolm an effort to be civil. 

“ I will walk back with you. What was I saying? 
Oh, she refused the poor chap, and told him that the 
holy estate of matrimony had no attraction for her, or 
some such rubbish. That is why I call Templeton a lucky 
fellow. There is not a creature belonging to them, except 
a distant cousin or two in New Zealand, so of course he 
will come in for everything ;” a pause here, and a furtive 
glance of inquiry; but Malcolm remained mute, and his 
face might have been a blank wall as far as expression 
was concerned. 

“ They have got a pretty penny saved too,” went on 
Mr. Jacobi, not in the least silenced by Malcolm’s lack of 
interest. “ Gyp told me a thing or two about that. It 
seems they had a farm in Cornwall” — here he sniffed at 
his scentless orchid with an air of enjoyment, a habit of 
his when his subject interested him. “ It was a rotten 
concern — farm buildings out of repair, and a few scrubby 
fields with more stones than grass. Miss Templeton was 


“ TWO LADIES OF UNCERTAIN AGE’^ 223 

just going to sell it for a mere song when some one dis- 
covered tin. My word, those few acres rose in value! 
Gyp declared they realised quite a small fortune on it. 
That was only three or four years ago.” 

“ Indeed,” returned Malcolm drily ; “ if you will pardon 
my speaking plainly, Mr. Jacobi, I do not think the Misses 
Templeton’s business affairs are any concern of ours, and 
I would prefer to talk on any other subject.” 

This was too manifest a hint to be disregarded even by 
the irrepressible Jacobi; but the next minute Malcolm 
added, “ Will you excuse my leaving you, I see some old 
friends of mine on their way to the Pool, and they will 
expect me to join them ;” but if Malcolrn intended to do 
so, he chose a most circuitous route. 

Rum chap that,” observed Saul Jacobi, turning on 
his heel — “ not easy to get any information out of him ; 
looks as though he had swallowed the poker first, and 
then the tongs as a sort of relish afterwards, and neither 
of them agreed with him. I wonder what young Temple- 
ton saw in him. He lays it on pretty thick too: it is 
Herrick this and Herrick that, as though he were Solo- 
mon in all his glory. Confound his airs and impudence I 
Let me tell you, my young gentleman,” with a sly smile, 
“ that the Misses Templeton’s private business is a matter 
that concerns Saul Jacobi pretty closely.” 

Meanwhile Malcolm was in a white heat of righteous 
indignation. 

That wretched little cad, how dare he meddle and 
pry into the Misses Templeton’s family affairs 1 There is 
something I mistrust in the man; he is smooth and 
plausible, but he is crafty too; he is deep — deep — and if 
I do not mistake, he is clever too.” 

Then he added, “ I must get hold of Cedric ; T am not 
comfortable at his associating with this man. Cedric is 
as weak as water; he is so easily led, he would be the 
dupe of any designing person ; but the Jacobis will have 


224 


HERB OF GRACE 


to reckon with me and here Malcolm, who had uttered 
the last words aloud, stopped and looked rather foolish, 
as a merry laugh greeted his ear, and Elizabeth, in all 
the glory of her Paris gown and picture hat, barred the 
way, and regarded him with her beaming smile. 

“ Mr. Herrick, you are quite dramatic ; Hamlet or the 
melancholy Jacques could not have been more lost in 
gloomy meditation. If I may presume to ask the ques- 
tion, why will the Jacobis have to reckon with you?” 

Did I say so ?” returned Malcolm, with an uneasy 
laugh. “ I suppose I was thinking aloud. That fellow 
Jacobi has been rubbing me up the wrong way; he stuck 
to me like a burr, and I could not get rid of him.” 

“ I had some trouble in shaking him off myself,” she 
owned. “ You were quite right, Mr. Herrick, he is not 
a gentleman, and I dislike his manner excessively; it is 
too subservient, and he is too soft-tongued. Poor dear 
Die, I wish you could have seen her face when he paid 
her a compliment; she looked quite bewildered.” 

Elizabeth’s eyes were dancing with amusement at the 
recollection, but Malcolm did not respond to her merri- 
ment ; he felt things were too serious. 

I am not at all easy in my mind,” he said, and then 
Elizabeth looked at him inquiringly. “ Jacobi seems to 
have got a hold on Cedric. He goes back with him to- 
night, does he not? Ah, I thought so,” as Elizabeth 
nodded. I must have some talk with him ; I shall tell 
him that I disapprove of the Jacobis, and shall beg him 
to break off the acquaintance.” 

“ Oh, thank you — thank you !” returned Elizabeth 
earnestly, and there was a beautiful colour in her face ; 
she even held out her hand impulsively to him, as though 
her gratitude carried her away. How good you are to 
us — a real friend to two lone, lorn women!” and here 
something twinkled in Elizabeth’s eyes ; but perhaps she 
was a little taken aback when Malcolm very quietly and 


TWO LADIES OF UNCERTAIN AGE’^ 225 


reverently raised the hand to his lips, as though he were 
vowing knightly service to his liege lady. 

“ I should ask nothing better than to be your friend,’' 
he said in a low voice; but perhaps something in her 
manner checked him, for he added hastily, '' and your 
sister’s too.” 

It was rather a lame conclusion, but Elizabeth accepted 
it graciously. “ I shall rely on you to help us,” she said 
very seriously ; “ get him to break with the Jacobis, and 
Dinah and I will owe you a debt of gratitude.” 

Hush ! please do not mention names,” whispered 
Malcolm ; “ some one might overhear us but he was 
too late, Elizabeth’s incautious speech had reached an 
unseen auditor. 

Malcolm felt a little ashamed of himself when he re- 
membered his impulsive action. “ She will think it so 
strange,” he thought ; “ she will not understand that it 
was only the outward and visible sign of my inward 
reverence.” But he was wrong, Elizabeth did under- 
stand, and she did not misjudge hirp. 

'' He is a high-minded gentleman,” she said to herself ; 
and then she sighed and her face grew troubled, “ but I 
wish — I wish he had not done that.” 

Malcolm found his work cut out for him; for the re- 
mainder of the afternoon he was hunting his quarry. 
But Cedric was never alone. He was either surrounded 
by a bevy of girls or else Jacobi was beside him. Even 
Cedric seemed surprised at the tenacity with which his 
friend and host stuck to him. 

“ Herrick wants me,” he said once ; “ I will come back 
to you right enough, old fellow but Jacobi still pinioned 
him. 

“ We will go together, my dear boy,” he said pleasantly. 

I have taken a fancy to your Mentor. He seems a 
clever chap. He is a barrister, isn’t he, and literary, and 
all that sort of thing ?” 


15 


226 


HERB OF GRACE 


“ I have told you about him often enough,” returned 
Cedric, in rather a surly tone, as though the iron hand 
under the velvet glove made itself evident. Cedric felt 
he was being managed and coerced, and he waxed in- 
dignant; but Saul Jacobi was more than a match for 
him, and in spite of all Malcolm’s efforts, Cedric went 
back to Henley without a word of warning. 

Malcolm was quite troubled and crestfallen over his 
failure. 

“ I did my best,” he said to Elizabeth ; I followed him 
about the whole afternoon, but that fellow stuck to him 
like a leech.” 

“ So I saw,” she returned rather sadly ; “ it was no 
fault of yours, Mr. Herrick, I am quite sure of that. 
Well, we must find some other opportunity.” And then 
Elizabeth smiled at him very kindly, and Malcolm went 
back to the Crow’s Nest feeling somewhat comforted. 


CHAPTER XXIII 

SAINT ELIZABETH ! 

Love lies deeper than all words ; 

And not the spoken but the speechless love 

Waits answer, ere I rise and go my way. 

Browning. 

When in after-years Malcolm Herrick reviewed this 
portion of his life, he owned to himself that during the 
five weeks that followed the Templeton Bean-feast he 
had lived in a fool's paradise — in a state of beatitude' that 
was as unsubstantial and fleeting as the sunset clouds 
that piled themselves behind the fir woods. 

He was very happy, almost pathetically so, and the 
new wine of youth seemed coursing through his veins. 

This is life/' he would say to himself ; I have only 
existed before, but now I am reborn into a new world, 
and I have learned the secret of all the ages." 

Every day his passion for Elizabeth Templeton in- 
creased, and the charm and sweetness of her personality 
attracted him more powerfully. He had never seen any 
one like her ; she was so full of surprises, her nature was 
so rich, so original, and yet so womanly, that the man 
whom she blessed with her love could never have grown 
weary of her society. Without an effort, simply by being 
herself, a truthful, noble-hearted woman, she had domi- 
nated his strong nature and brought him to her feet. Was 
she conscious of his devotion? This was a question that 
Malcolm vainly tried to answer, but her manner per- 
plexed and baffled him. She was always kind and 
friendly, and her cordial welcome never varied, but Mal- 
colm could not flatter himself that he received any special 

227 


228 


HERB OF GRACE 


encouragement, or that she regarded him in any other 
light than a trusted and valued friend. Now and then, 
when he found himself alone with her, he fancied her 
manner had changed — that she had become quiet and re- 
served, as though she were not at her ease with him. 
Was it only his imagination, he wondered, that she seemed 
trying to keep him at a distance, as though she were afraid 
of him ? But such was his blindness and infatuation that 
he drew encouragement even from this. 

To Malcolm those summer days were simply perfect. 
His morning hours were devoted to his literary work, 
and the essays were taking shape and form under his 
hand. Never had his brain been clearer; he worked with 
a facility that surprised himself. “ I am inspired,’' he 
would whisper ; “ I have a patron saint of my own now,” 
and he would tell himself that no name could be so sweet 
to him as Elizabeth. He would murmur it half-aloud as 
he wandered in the woodlands in the gloaming — Eliza- 
beth, Elizabeth” — and once as he said it, something 
seemed to rise in his throat and choke him. 

He had not forgotten Anna; he had never forgotten 
her in his life, for his adopted sister was very dear to 
him. 

Every week he wrote to his mother and also to her — 
pleasant, chatty letters, full of affection and warm with 
brotherly kindness. If Anna ever shed tears over them 
he never knew it. 

With what touching humility she acknowledged his 
thoughtfulness ! 

Another letter — how good you are to me !” she would 
say in her reply. “ Mother declares that you spoil me. I 
read her all your description of the Bean-feast. Oh, if I 
had only been there ! But it is wicked of me to say that.” 

But later on there' was a touch of curiosity, almost a 
shadow of doubt. 

“ You say so little about Miss Elizabeth Templeton,” 


SAINT ELIZABETH! 


229 


she wrote, and yet you are at the Wood House every 
day. It is always Miss Templeton. Is it heresy, dear? 
but I fancy I should like Miss Elizabeth best. Tell me 
more about her next time you write. I want to see her 
with your eyes.” But Anna pleaded in vain — on the 
subject of Elizabeth’s merits he kept silence. 

But it was quite true that he was at the Wood House 
nearly every day, and that the sisters always welcomed 
him most kindly. Sometimes he dined there, either alone 
or with the Kestons ; or he would stroll across at tea-time, 
or oftener in the evening, when they were sitting on the 
terrace. David Carlyon was often with them ; his father 
had left him by this time. The young men used to look 
askance at each other in the dim light, and Malcolm would 
shake hands with the curate rather stiffly. 

“ Carlyon was there again,” he would say to Amias, 
when he found his friend smoking in the porch. “ I don’t 
dislike the fellow, but one may have too much even of a 
good thing.” Then Amias looked at him rather queerly 
but made no answer. 

Caleb Martin and Kit were established comfortably at 
the cottage under Mrs. Sullivan’s motherly wing, and 
Kit’s white pinched little face filled out in the sweet 
country air. 

“ She is a different creature,” Caleb assured Malcolm. 

I wish Ma’am could see her. She is just as happy as 
the day is long. We are in the woods from morning to 
night, picking up fir-cones and building with them, and 
making believe that we are gypsies. She’s ready to drop 
with fatigue before she lets me take her home, and then 
our good lady scolds us a bit.” 

And poor Mrs. Martin is alone in Todmorden’s 
Lane?” remarked Malcolm. 

Lord love you, sir,” returned Caleb, “ you don’t need 
to be pitying Ma’am ; she’s glad to be rid of the pair of 
us. She is whitewashing and papering the rooms. She 


230 


HERB OF GRACE 


is a handy woman, is Ma’am, and she says we shall not 
know the place when we go back. I never knew such 
a woman for scrubbing and cleaning — it seems to make 
her happy somehow.” 

Malcolm made frequent visits to Rotherwood to see 
Caleb and Kit, and he generally paid them on the days 
when Elizabeth was at the schools, so that he could walk 
back with her through the woodlands. 

The first time he did this Elizabeth seemed rather sur- 
prised, though she offered no objection; but after that 
she took it as a matter of course, and chatted with him on 
all manner of subjects. She listened very kindly when 
Malcolm sounded her on the subject of Kit, and made 
all sorts of impossible plans for the child’s future; and 
though she laughed at him good-humouredly, and told 
him that he was a visionary, impracticable person, she 
soon became serious and brought her shrewd common- 
sense and feminine wits to his assistance. And so it was 
that one day he made a proposition that nearly took 
Caleb’s breath away. 

Kit must certainly not go back to Todmorden’s Lane 
until she was stronger, he remarked. Miss Templeton 
and he were fully agreed on this point; the fogs and 
low-lying mists from the river were harmful to her poor 
little chest. 

Caleb must leave her under Mrs. Sullivan’s care. Miss 
Templeton had made all arrangements, and he would be 
responsible for the expense. There had been a pitched 
battle over this point; but for once Elizabeth had been 
forced to give in, Malcolm had been so stern and mas- 
terful. 

Caleb should come down for the week-end every three 
weeks or so, he could promise him that, and a whole week 
at Christmas. But Caleb looked too much dazed to 
answer, and there was a misty look in the transparent, 
light-blue eyes. 


SAINT ELIZABETH! 


231 


“I’m took all of a heap!” he ejaculated at last. “It 
is not that I don’t thank you kindly, sir, for I am pretty 
nigh choking with gratitude ; but you see there is Ma’am 
to reckon with — if Kit were her own little ’un she couldn’t 
be fonder of her.” 

“ I daresay not,” remarked Malcolm, and there was a 
trace of impatience in his tone ; “ but, after all, Mr. Mar- 
tin, you are Kit’s father.” But Caleb only shook his head 
doubtfully, and went on in his slow, ruminating way. 

“ Most folk think that Ma’am is a bad-natured woman 
because she gives them the rough side of her tongue; 
but. Lord bless you, her bark’s worse than her bite. Her 
heart is just set on Kit, and she would not hurt a hair 
of her head in her most contrary moods, wher^even the 
black cat won’t stay in the place she is making such a 
scrimmage with the pots and pans. But Kit only laughs. 
' It is Ma’am at her music,’ she says ; ^ but it t’aint the 
sort of music I like.’ Yes, indeed, sir, I have heered her 
say that a score of times.” 

“ Very well, then, you had better go and have a talk 
with your wife,” returned Malcolm. 

And Caleb went, and came back to Rotherwood the 
next day a sadder and a wiser man. 

“Well, and what did Mrs. Martin say?” asked Mal- 
colm when he saw Caleb again. 

The little cobbler drew his hand across his eyes in an 
embarrassed fashion; he was evidently trying to recol- 
lect something. 

“ Ma’am sends her humble duty,” he answered pres- 
ently in a sing-song voice, “ and she is greatly obliged to 
you and the kind lady, and Kit may stay along of Mrs. 
Sullivan — those were her very words, sir.” 

“ Mrs. Martin is a sensible woman then.” 

“ Oh, she is that, sir. She was scolding me all supper- 
time for not thinking of the child’s good. ^ You can 
bring her back if you like, Caleb,’ she says, ‘ and poison 


232 


HERB OF GRACE 


her with the filthy fogs, and get her ready for her coffin, 
poor lamb. And you call yourself a father, Caleb Martin ? 
Drat all such fathers, I say!^ She made me clean 
ashamed of myself, did Ma’am;” and here the little man 
looked ready to cry. 

“ Well, Mr. Martin, I do think the child will be better 
here, and you can come down every three weeks or so to 
see her — you know we have arranged that — and now and 
then you can bring your wife too and Caleb brightened 
up at this. 

But the day he left Rotherwood he was so lugubrious 
and tearful that Malcolm felt quite sorry for him; but 
Kit took a less depressing view. 

'' I don’t want you to go, dad,” she said feelingly ; but 
I like staying along with this good lady,” with a friendly 
nod of her head to Mrs. Sullivan. “ I have got a black 
kitten of my own and a yellow chick, and they are better 
than dolls because they can love me back. And the ladies 
from the Wood House are going to take me out for drives 
— my, won’t that be ’eavenly !” Nevertheless Kit shed a 
few tears when Caleb closed the little gate behind him. 
“ I want to stay here, and I want daddy too,” she said 
rather pitifully. 

All these weeks Malcolm had seen nothing of Cedric. 
His visit to the Jacobis had been prolonged for another 
ten days, and then he wrote, in high spirits, to tell his 
sisters that Dick Wallace had invited him to go down to 
his father’s place in Scotland. 

“ I expect I shall have rare sport there, and stalk a deer 
or two,” he continued. Dick and I are to go down by 
the night mail on Thursday, but I will run over to Staple- 
grove for a few hours. Tell Herrick I will look him up 
at his diggings.” 

By some oversight Elizabeth forgot to give Malcolm 
this message, and Malcolm, who had to go up to town on 
business, was much chagrined to find that Cedric had 


SAINT ELIZABETH! 


233 

called during his absence, and had been greatly disap- 
pointed at missing him. 

He went across to the Wood House directly after sup- 
per, and found the ladies sitting out on the terrace. 

Elizabeth was very contrite. 

“ It was dreadfully careless of me',’’ she confessed ; “ I 
meant to have sent you a note last night, but some one 
called — who was it, Dinah ? — and put it out of my head.” 
But Dinah could not recollect that any one had called 
except David Carlyon, and seemed rather surprised at the 
question. 

“ Oh, it must have been Mr. Carlyon,” returned Eliza- 
beth ; but she coloured slightly. “ It was really very 
stupid of me ; Cedric was quite put out about it.” 

“ Oh, well, it cannot be helped,” observed Malcolm, 
philosophically. “ Did he say much about the Jacobis?” 

“ No, he only remarked that they had been very kind, 
and that he had had a rattling good time. Those were his 
words, were they not. Die ?” and Dinah smiled assent. 

'' We both asked him a heap of questions, but they 
seemed to bore him ; he was full of his Scotch visit, and 
would scarcely talk of anything else.” 

Malcolm was not quite satisfied, but he kept his doubts 
to himself. Elizabeth, who was as sharp as a needle, 
looked up at him quickly. We did our best, I assure 
you, Mr. Herrick, but he refused to be drawn ; he seemed 
very much excited.” 

The Wallaces are a good sort of people, are they 
not?” was Malcolm’s next question. 

“ Oh yes, they are thoroughly nice ;” it was Dinah who 
answered him. “ Sir Richard is charming, and so is 
Lady Wallace ; and of course Dick is an old acquaintance 
of ours.” 

“ There are some daughters, I believe ?” 

Yes, but they are not very young or attractive, poor 
things,” replied Elizabeth — “ heavy, podgy sort of girls, 


234 


HERB OF GRACE 


but very kind-hearted. By the bye, Die, I wonder if 
Cedric will come across the Godfreys, they are some- 
where in the neighbourhood.” And then she explained 
to Malcolm that Fettercairn Hall, where Sir Richard 
Wallace lived, was only a few miles from the shooting 
lodge where the Godfreys were staying; and this fact 
appeared to give the sisters a good deal of satisfaction. 

It was the middle of September now, and Malcolm 
reflected with some uneasiness that more than half his 
holiday was over. The Kestons had decided to return 
to Cheyne Walk in another three weeks or so, and of 
course he must accompany them; his mother and Anna 
would be back in town by that time, and his presence 
would be needed in Lincoln’s Inn. 

“ The shadows of the prison-house,” as he called it, 
began to haunt him, and he counted up his days as jeal- 
ously as a miser counts his gold. 

Every day he saw Elizabeth; and each hour he was 
alone with her he found it more difficult to keep silence; 
but as yet he had had himself well in hand. Perhaps 
something in her manner had sealed his lips, or he feared 
that the spell of this happy dream would be broken. But 
during those wakeful summer nights, when that sweet 
pain kept him restless, he would tell himself that the time 
had not yet come, that she did not know him well enough. 

“ She is not a young girl,” he would say to himself ; 
she is a mature woman who knows the world and has 
thought deeply — why, even to know her is a liberal edu- 
cation.” And then he repeated to himself in the darkness 
those lines of Shelley — 

“ Her voice was like the voice of his own soul. 

Heard in the calm of thought,” 

for all the sweet influences of summer and nature had 
only fed the passion, and every day it seemed to grow 
stronger and stronger. 


SAINT ELIZABETH! 


235 


“ She is my other self, she thinks my thoughts, we 
have a thousand things in common, how can she help 
loving me!” he would say when his mood was jubilant 
and sanguine;, but at other times a chill doubt would 
cross his mind. 

“ She is different from other women, she will not be 
easily won, that is why I fear to speak but all the same 
Malcolm registered a mental vow that he would not leave 
Staplegrove until the decisive words had been spoken. 


CHAPTER XXIV 


DOWN BY THE POOL 
The heaven 

Of thy mild brows hath given 

Grace to all things I see; 

And in thy life I live, and lose myself in thee. 

J. Addington Symonds. 

I would love infinitely, and be loved. — Browning. 

Malcolm was no hot-headed boy to be moved by mere 
impulse, nevertheless the day came when all his prudent 
resolutions were forgotten, when silence and self-repres- 
sion were absolute torture to him, when he felt he must 
speak or for ever hold his peace. 

It was Elizabeth’s birthday ; he only heard that after- 
wards, or he would have brought her some choice offering 
in the shape of flowers or books, in honour of his patron 
Saint’s fete-day; but happily Elizabeth was unconscious 
of this. 

“ I am thirty-one to-day,” she said to him gaily; “ is 
not that a great age ? Oh, no wonder Cedric calls me an 
old maid.” And then she laughed with an air of enjoy- 
ment, as though her new title amused her. “ Old maids 
can be very nice, can they not, Mr. Herrick ?” 

They were sitting down by the Pool, and Dinah had 
just left them at Elizabeth’s suggestion to tell the servants 
that they would have tea there, and to answer a business 
note. The afternoon was sultry, more like August than 
September; but down by the Pool there was a pleasant 
shade and coolness. As usual, all the dogs were grouped 
round them; and Elizabeth, in spite of her thirty-one 
years, looked quite youthful in her white gown. A dark 
236 


DOWN BY THE POOL 


237 


velvety Cramoisie rose nestled against her full throat. 
Malcolm remembered suddenly that he had noticed that 
special rose in the garden of the White Cottage when he 
last dined at the vicarage ; he wondered with a sudden 
fierce prick of jealousy if that fellow Carlyon knew it 
was her birthday, and had brought it to her. At the idea 
there was a dangerous throbbing of his pulses. 

The previous evening he had strolled across to the 
Wood House in the hope that Elizabeth would be in one 
of her gracious moods, and then he could coax her to 
sing to him. But to his disappointment his visit had 
seemed less welcome than usual; and though Dinah re- 
ceived him with her wonted gentle courtesy, he had a 
vague suspicion that something was amiss. Dinah looked 
as though she had been shedding tears, and Elizabeth’s 
face was flushed, and she was very silent; if he had 
not known them so well, and their intense love for each 
other, he would almost have suspected that there had 
been a warm altercation between them, but this was mani- 
festly impossible. 

No, they had never quarrelled even in their childish 
days, he remembered Elizabeth had once told him that, 
and assuredly they never quarrelled now. Nevertheless, 
there was something troubled in the atmosphere, and even 
Dinah seemed to find it difficult to talk. 

Malcolm raged inwardly over his disappointment, but 
he had too much tact to prolong his visit. He was re- 
warded for his forbearance when Dinah said in her gentle 
way, “ I am afraid we are rather stupid to-night, Mr. 
Herrick; Elizabeth is tired, and — and — we have been 
talking for hours; if you look in to-morrow afternoon 
we will promise to behave better.” But though Elizabeth 
did not endorse this, Malcolm accepted this invitation 
with undisguised pleasure. 

But his satisfaction would have been sadly damped 
if he had overheard Elizabeth’s speech. “Why did you 


238 


HERB OF GRACE 


ask him, Die? You know’’ — ^hesitating a moment — “ that 
I like to be quiet on my birthday.” 

He looked so dull,” returned Dinah apologetically ; 
“ I think we depressed him. I am very sorry, dear ; I 
ought to have found out your wishes first. But he will 
not stay long unless we ask him.” Elizabeth made no 
answer to this ; she looked thoughtful and a little troubled, 
and Dinah felt she had done the wrong thing. But 
this afternoon Elizabeth was in her old sunshiny mood, 
and she made her little speech about being an old maid 
in a way that charmed Malcolm. 

How still it was down by the Pool ! Only a dry leaf 
dropping into the water, or the sleepy snapping of one 
of the dogs at the midges, or the faint twitter of a far-off 
bird broke the silence. The air was sweet with the warm, 
resinous smell of the firs ; the strong perfume seemed to 
pervade his senses. 

He was alone with her — not a human creature was 
near them ; and he was so close that if he had stretched 
out his hand he could have touched her dress. Malcolm’s 
heart began beating dangerously, and there was a curi- 
ous throbbing at his temples; when he tried to speak his 
voice was thick and indistinct; then with a great effort 
he steadied himself, for his time had come and he knew it. 

“ There is something I want to say to you — that for 
weeks I have been trying to say — will you let me speak 
now ?” Did he really say those words, or did he whisper 
them inwardly? But no, he could see the sudden startled 
look in Elizabeth’s eyes when she saw his face. 

“ May I speak?” 

No — no,” in a frightened tone. Mr. Herrick, for 
my sake — for both our sakes — I implore you to be silent ; 
I cannot — I will not listen” — her agitation increasing 
with every word. But she might as well have tried to 
control the wind. 

You cannot mean that,” he returned gently but firmly ; 


DOWN BY THE POOL 


239 


“ forgive me if I do not obey you — if it is not possible 
for me to keep silence any longer. Elizabeth, surely all 
these weeks you must have known that you were the one 
woman in the world for me 

No — no,’’ she returned, covering her face with her 
hands, I never knew it ; how could I — how could I ?” 
But he mistook the cause of her emotion. 

I think no woman was ever loved so well ! All these 
weeks that I have been dumb, I have been living for you 
— only for you.” Then she put up her trembling hand to 
stop him, but he caught it in his own. 

“ Elizabeth, will you try to love me a little ?” 

“ Hush — hush,” endeavouring to free herself. In- 
deed — indeed you must not say such things, Mr. Herrick ; 
you are deceiving yourself. We are friends, and I like 
you, and I am very, very grateful to you for all your 
goodness to Cedric, but I never meant it to come to 
this.” 

“ How do you mean ?” he asked, and his face was white 
with emotion. “ Surely you must have seen how things 
were with me and Malcolm’s voice was a little hard. 

I think I tried not to see,” she answered truthfully. 
“ Once or twice I was afraid, and then I told myself I 
was mistaken. Mr. Herrick, I do not want to hurt you, 
I would not add to your trouble for the world, but at 
least you will do me the justice of owning that I never 
gave you any encouragement.” 

“ No,” he returned, in a tone of forced composure, 

you never encouraged me in my presumption. I loved 
you because I could not help myself — because you were 
Elizabeth Templeton and I was Malcolm Herrick.” Then 
her eyes grew very sad. 

“ Dear friend, it was no presumption — any woman 
would have felt honoured by such devotion; but,” and 
here a burning flush came to her face, “ it is too late — I 
am not free.” 


240 


HERB OF GRACE 


Malcolm stared at her. Surely he was in some hideous 
nightmare, but he would wake directly. What an awful 
stillness seemed round them! — as though a storm were 
impending: the water-lilies on the Pool looked like dead 
things, and even the dragon-fly hung motionless in mid- 
air ; only the dogs panted and snored round them. Eliza- 
beth pressed her hands together as though something 
pained her. 

‘‘ I am not free,” she repeated in a low voice ; but she 
did not look at Malcolm as she spoke. “ Last evening 
Mr. Carlyon spoke to me, and — and we are engaged.” 

“ Good God !” but Malcolm did not say the words 
aloud, for his tongue felt suddenly dry and palsied, — 
it was only the cry of his soul to his Maker in the hour 
of his agony. But Elizabeth dared not look at him, or 
her heart would have been wrung with pity at the sight of 
his drawn, haggard face. 

“We have cared for each other for a long time,” she 
whispered, “ but he was poor and did not like to speak. 
Only Dinah knows. I had just told her when you came 
in last evening. We did not want any one else' to know 
just yet.” 

“ But I forced your hand.” Malcolm had pulled him- 
self together now. “ Thank you for telling me the truth ; 
but you were always a brave woman,” and he tried to 
smile. 

“ Oh no, I have not been brave ;” and then her eyes 
suddenly filled with tears. “ Mr. Herrick, I am so un- 
happy; this — this — has spoiled everything.” 

“ No — no, you must not say that. If I have been a 
blind fool, it is no fault of yours, and I have no one to 
thank but myself for the misery that has come upon me. 
Elizabeth” — oh, how sad his voice was ! it thrilled her to 
hear it — “ before I leave you, let me wish you every hap- 
piness — you and Mr. Carlyon too;” and then he rose to 
his feet. 


DOWN BY THE POOL 


241 


“ Must you go ?’' she pleaded. 

Yes, I must go,” he returned hurriedly ; will you 
excuse me to your sister ?” Then Elizabeth stretched out 
her hand to him in silence, and he saw that she could not 
trust herself to speak. 

“ You must not be too sorry for me,” he said rather 
brokenly ; “ I am not the only man who has been denied 
his heart’s desire and he turned away and plunged into 
the little fir wood. Elizabeth sat listening to his retreat- 
ing footsteps. The tears were running down her cheeks. 
She was still weeping when Dinah rejoined her. 

“ Have I been long?” she observed cheerfully. ^ That 
tiresome Mrs. Garrick called about the mothers’ meetings. 
Where is Mr. Herrick?” Then, as she caught sight of 
Elizabeth’s face, “ Oh, my dear Betty, what is it ? — what 
has gone wrong? — and on your birthday too!” — Eliza- 
beth wept afresh. 

“ Hush, don’t ask me — not now. David will be here 
directly, and he must not see me like this. You were 
right. Die, you saw how it was, and I would not believe 
you — I did not want to believe you. Now let me go away 
^and recover myself.” But Dinah held her fast. 

“You shall go in a moment, dear; but just tell me 
one thing — did Mr. Herrick ask you to be his wife?” 

“ Not exactly — I would not let him go as far as that; 
but. Die, he loves me so, and he is so unhappy.” Then 
Dinah sighed, and her hand dropped from her sister’s 
arm. 

“ You had better go,” she returned. “ I see Mullins 
crossing the bridge. If David comes I will make an ex- 
cuse for your absence ;” and Elizabeth nodded and turned 
away. Dinah’s heart was very heavy as she stood looking 
down upon the Pool. It is the looker-on who sees most 
of the game, and weeks ago she had vainly tried to open 
Elizabeth’s eyes to a sense of her danger. 

“ He has never said a word to me that the whole world 
16 


242 


HERB OF GRACE 


might not hear — I don’t believe he ever will,” Elizabeth 
had replied obstinately; but Dinah knew that she was 
wilfully deceiving herself — that her intuition was truer 
than her words, and that in Malcolm Herrick’s presence 
she was always on guard, as if she feared an invasion 
of her woman’s kingdom. 

Dinah could have wept too in her grievous disappoint- 
ment and passionate pity, for Elizabeth’s choice seemed 
to her a great mistake. David Carlyon was a dear fellow, 
and as good as gold, but he was not equal to Malcolm. 

“ If only they had met a year ago,” she thought, “ be- 
fore David’s influence grew so strong, she would surely 
have discovered then that they were made for each other. 
Mr. Herrick is just the sort of man she would have ad- 
mired. There is something striking and original about 
him, and then in spite of his cleverness he is so simple 
and good. “ Oh, Betty, my darling,” she went on, “ why 
could you not have given me such a brother! I should 
have been so proud of him!” And then Dinah checked 
herself in very shame, for she remembered how she had 
promised Elizabeth the previous evening that she would 
take David Carlyon to her sisterly heart. 

It was not a very cheerful birthday tea, though each 
one of the trio tried to do his or her best to promote inno- 
cent hilarity. Elizabeth talked a great deal, but her face 
was still flushed, and she rather avoided her lover’s eyes, 
and as for David he talked principally to Dinah. He 
told funny little parish stories which made her laugh, 
and to which Elizabeth listened with a manifest effort, 
and he took no notice when she chimed in with some 
irrelevant remark. Dinah wondered to herself more than 
once if he really had not noticed that Elizabeth’s eyelids 
were still reddened, in spite of cold water and eau de 
Cologne. David was certainly a little dense in his happi- 
ness, she thought, and then she sighed involuntarily as 
she thought of the lonely man who had left them. 


DOWN BY THE POOL 


243 


“ He will take it hardly,” she said to herself. “ His 
nature is intense, and he will suffer more than most 
men and as this thought passed through her mind, she 
looked up and found David’s keen, bright eyes fixed on 
her, and coloured a little as though he had read her 
thoughts. 

When tea was over, Dinah made some transparent little 
excuse to go back to the house, for in these sweet, early 
days of their happiness she knew well that the lovers 
would have much to say to each other. And she was not 
wrong: before she was out of sight David had flung 
himself down at Elizabeth’s feet, and had taken her hands. 

‘'What is it, dearest?” he said tenderly. “You have 
been shedding tears — do you think I did not know that ?” 
Then Elizabeth blushed as though she were a child dis- 
covered in a fault. “ Tell me all about it, darling,” he 
whispered ; but she shook her head. 

“ I cannot, David — indeed I cannot ; you must not ask 
me to tell you this.” Elizabeth’s voice quivered a little, 
but she was very much in earnest. 

“ Must I not ?” he returned with a smile. “ Don’t look 
so frightened, sweetheart; perhaps there is no need to 
ask, perhaps I know all you are trying to keep from me.” 
And then in a low voice full of meaning, “ So Herrick 
has spoken at last.” 

“ At last !” It was evident those two words had startled 
Elizabeth. David with some difficulty suppressed an irre- 
sistible smile. 

“ Do you mean,” he asked incredulously, “ that you 
never noticed, what every one else saw so plainly, that 
that poor fellow fairly worshipped the ground you trod 
on?” Then again a painful flush came to Elizabeth’s 
face. 

“ I was not sure,” she stammered, for her conscience 
did not wholly acquit her — “ I would not let myself see 
or notice things ; besides, I was thinking of you.” Then 


244 


HERB OF GRACE 


David kissed the hands he held ; but there was a troubled 
look in his eyes. 

“ Poor beggar he muttered to himself. Then aloud, 
“ Do you know, my darling, what people will say when 
they hear you have thrown over a man like Herrick for 
me — for a mere curate, with empty pockets and not too 
many brains.” 

“ Do you suppose I care what they say !” throwing her 
head back in rather a regal fashion. 

“ They will say you are mad ; and upon my word,” 
and here David knit his brows in a puzzled manner, “ I 
am not sure that they will be wrong. Look at the differ- 
ence between us. Herrick is my superior in every way. 
I used to shake in my shoes to hear him talk to the vicar. 
Elizabeth, my heart aches for thajt poor fellow, but even 
you do not know what I have suffered on his account all 
these weeks. There were times when I was tempted to 
throw up the sponge.” 

“ Oh, David, when you knew — when you must have 
known my feelings !” 

“ Yes, I knew ; but there were days when my courage 
failed me, and I felt I had no right to stand in your light. 
Dearest,” and here he was kneeling beside her with all a 
man’s worship in his honest eyes, “ you are too good for 
me — do you think I do not know that it is your goodness 
and generosity that make you stoop to me !” But Eliza- 
beth laid her hand upon his lips. 

“ Hush, you shall not talk so. It is I who am not 
worthy of you. I love you, David — I love you, oh so 
dearly ; that is enough for you — and me too,” and Eliza- 
beth looked at him with an adorable smile. Then for a 
little while Malcolm Herrick vyas forgotten. 


CHAPTER XXV 


'' IT HAS GONE VERY DEEP” 

When you depart from me, sorrow abides and happiness takes 
his leave. — Shakespeare. 

Fulfil the perfection of long-suffering — be thou patient. — 
T caching of Buddha. 

All his life long Malcolm never spoke of the hours 
that followed that fateful interview down by the Pool, 
when he was as one who had just received his baptism 
of fire — when he was scorched through and through with 
that new and terrible agony. 

He will take it hardly,” Dinah had said to herself. 

His nature is intense, and he will suffer more than 
most men;” and she was right. Malcolm did suffer 
cruelly. 

He had spoken his parting words to Elizabeth with 
outward calmness, though his lips were blanched and his 
features drawn with pain; for he was a gentleman, and 
noblesse oblige, and why should he make her suffer when 
she had done him no wrong ? “I am not the only man 
who has been denied his heart’s desire,” he had said to her 
in a dull, lifeless voice, and in this he was certainly right. 
All are not winners in the race ; many fail to attain their 
goal, and retire baffled and disheartened from the con- 
test ; but few suffer as Malcolm Herrick did, and though 
he did not curse the day he was born, as Job did, the 
whole plan and purpose of his life seemed frustrated and 
the future a hopeless blank. 

And the fault was his own ! Even in his most despair- 
ing moments he never ceased to tell himself that she had 
never encouraged him — never held out her woman’s 

245 


246 


HERB OF GRACE 


sceptre for him to touch; and even when she had been 
most sweet and winsome, she had not abridged the dis- 
tance between them, nor, in her noble sincerity and friend- 
ship, attempted to draw him closer. 

No, it was he who had been a blind fool, and he must 
pay the penalty of his madness. The gates of his earthly 
paradise had closed behind him for ever. He could hear 
them clanging in the distance; and the golden bells of 
his city of dreams were chiming Nevermore — oh, never- 
more 

“ His City of dreams — what a good name V* thought 
he; and through the long summer days he had dwelt 
there like a king. And now the gates had closed, and the 
golden pinnacles were no longer visible, and the breath of 
the roses and the fragrance of the spices of Araby the 
blessed would no longer steep his senses in sweetness. 
Nevermore — oh, nevermore would those blissful dreams 
be his ! 

Malcolm never quite recollected what he did with him- 
self that evening. The idea of going back to the Crow’s 
Nest in his present state of mind was simply intolerable. 
How could he have joined in the simple meal and listened 
to Goliath’s talk ! 

No, it would be better to have a good long walk and 
look things in the face, and if he tired himself so much 
the better. But Malcolm never retained any clear recol- 
lection of that walk. He had a vague idea that he passed 
Earlsfield station, and presently he found himself on the 
open moor, where he had driven with Elizabeth the day 
when she had so naively confessed her ignorance to him. 
“ I am rather a desultory sort of person,” she had said to 
him, and he had offered to make out a list of books for 
her to read. 

He had done so, and she had thanked him very sweetly, 
and had sent for some of the books, but he had never seen 
her read them. Perhaps Carlyon — and at this thought he 


IT HAS GONE VERY DEEP” 


247 


ground his teeth hard — perhaps Carlyon had discouraged 
her. Horticulture seemed his chief hobby, and he was 
always talking to her about a new fern-house they were 
making at the Wood House, and Malcolm’s poor books 
were neglected. 

He flung himself down on the heather. He would 
battle it out with himself, he thought, and when he was 
in a quieter frame of mind he would go home. Home, 
pooh ! he would never have a home now ! 

It was a glorious evening. A fresh, soft breeze had 
risen and blew refreshingly in his face, but he never 
heeded it, for in some moods we take the gifts and graces 
of Nature as a matter of course, and yield her no thanks 
or acknowledgment for her gentle benison. Even the 
glowing crimson tints of the sunset clouds could not 
move him to admiration. A line of Browning came in- 
voluntarily to his mind : 

I will not soil thy purple with my dust; 

but he was thinking of Elizabeth and not of the sunset. 

“ I must battle it out with myself,” he repeated. But 
hours passed, and the moon had risen, and he still lay 
there, plucking up the heather and flinging it aside in 
a stupefaction of misery. It was only when the Septem- 
ber darkness stole over the moor that he recollected him- 
self and stumbled to his feet. 

He was almost worn out when he unlatched the little 
gate at the Crow’s Nest. Amias was smoking as usual in 
the porch, and Verity was with him. The lamplight from 
within fell full on Malcolm’s face as he approached them. 
Verity gave a start. 

Oh, how tired you look !” she said in quite a shocked 
voice. Malcolm gave her a weary smile. 

I have had a long walk,” he returned. '' It was such 
a lovely evening, so I resolved to miss supper for once.” 
He tried to speak in a jaunty fashion, but it was a ghastly 


248 


HERB OF GRACE 


failure, and he knew it. He was so sick and faint with 
inanition that he felt as though he could not utter another 
word. “ I am tired, I think I will go to bed. Good-night 
you two and he groped his way to the garden-house. 

Amias took his pipe from his mouth and looked at his 
wife inquiringly. 

“ What’s come to Herrick ?” he said in a concerned 
tone ; he looks dead beat. We thought he was dining 
at the Wood House ; at least you said so, Yea- Verily, my 
child, and I believed you.” 

"‘Yes, I know, dear; but we were both wrong, and 
he has eaten nothing, that is evident.” And then she got 
up quickly. “ The kitchen fire is still alight, and the 
kettle will soon boil ; I told Martha to leave it. I will 
make him some coifee, and you shall take it to him. And, 
Amias, you dear old thing, don’t talk to him; he is not 
fit for it to-night.” 

And so it was that a quarter of an hour later Amias 
knocked at Malcolm’s door, and was reluctantly bidden to 
enter. 

Malcolm was sitting still fully dressed by the open 
window, and the moonlight made him look still more 
ghastly. Amias, without a word, lighted the lamp and 
placed the tray beside him. “ Verity sends her love, and 
says you must eat your supper,” was all he ventured to 
say, but his large hand rested kindly on Malcolm’s shoul- 
der for a moment. Malcolm tried to thank him, but the 
words would not come. But when his friend had left the 
room he suddenly covered his face with his hands and 
cried like a child. “ Elizabeth — Elizabeth !” but there 
was no response ; only a sleepy bird stirred in the shrub- 
bery. In spite of his great intimacy with the Kestons and 
his very real friendship, Malcolm did not confide in either 
of them. He was undemonstrative and self-reliant by 
nature, and, as he said himself afterwards, “ There’ are 
some things that a man ought to keep to himself.” But 


IT HAS GONE VERY DEEP’^ 


249 


neither Amias nor Verity expected any such confi- 
dence. 

If Amias seemed puzzled by the change in Malcolm, 
Verity needed no explanation. She had seen how things 
were from the first. She had once caught sight of Mal- 
colm’s face when Elizabeth Templeton had passed him 
so closely that her dress brushed against him. She had 
seen that look in Amias’s eyes in the dear auld lang syne. 

Verity was a loyal little soul, and she never even hinted 
her suspicions to her husband. Neither did she attempt 
to find out what was amiss. When, the next evening, 
Malcolm told them hurriedly that he would be obliged to 
return to town earlier than he thought, she interrupted 
Amias’s clumsy exclamations of regret. “ Mr. Herrick 
has been very good to give us so much of his company,” 
she said cheerfully. “ Of course we shall miss him, and 
so will Babs;” and then in her pretty, housewifely way 
she set about making arrangements for his comfort, and 
Malcolm felt inwardly grateful for this unspoken sym- 
pathy. 

He went over to the vicarage to bid Mr. Charrington 
good-bye. On the way back he met David Carlyon. The 
young curate looked rather nervous and discomposed, but 
Malcolm was quite calm. 

‘‘ As I am leaving Staplegrove to-morrow,” he said 
quietly, “ I am glad to have this opportunity of offering 
my congratulations and bidding you good-bye.” The lie 
came glibly to his lips. Glad, when he would have gone 
a dozen miles to avoid his rival — his successful rival ! 
Nevertheless — such hypocrites are the best of men — the 
words flowed smoothly from his lips. 

“ Thanks awfully,” replied David, prodding the dust 
with his stick. Are you going up to the Wood House 
now? I think — that is, I am sure the ladies are out;” 
which was certainly the fact, as he had just seen them 
driving in the direction of Earlsfield. 


250 


HERB OF GRACE 


“ No, not this afternoon, I think,” replied Malcolm. 
“ Well, good-bye, I am a bit pressed for time and then 
the young men shook hands, and David’s grip was almost 
painful. 

'' Poor beggar !” he muttered to himself as he turned 
away ; but Malcolm could not give expression, if he tried, 
to those bitter thoughts of his. 

“ David Carlyon her husband — the husband of Eliza- 
beth Templeton — why, the very birds knew how to mate 
more fitly !” he thought. “ He is good and true, but he 
is not worthy of her and David in his sad humility was 
saying the same thing of himself. 

That evening Dinah received a note; Amias Keston 
left it. 

“ My dear Miss Templeton,” wrote Malcolm, to- 
morrow I am leaving Staplegrove, and I know you will 
understand the reason why I do not call to bid you good- 
bye, and that you will not think me ungrateful after all 
the kindness and hospitality I have received from you. 
Your sister has often told me that you have no secrets 
from each other; so you will know why it is better for 
me to return to town. I have been to the vicarage this 
afternoon, and have seen Carlyon. With kindest regards 
to you and your sister, yours very sincerely and grate- 
fully, 

" Malcolm Herrick.” 

Elizabeth grew a little pale and bit her lip when Dinah 
showed her the note. 

It has gone very deep,” she said to herself. “ David 
said so, and he was right — it has gone very deep.” 

So Malcolm shook off the dust of Staplegrove, and 
the gates of his City of dreams clanged behind him. 

“ He must dree his weird,” he said to himself, as he 
sat down to his work in the gloomy room in Lincoln’s 
Inn, and in spite of heart-sickness he worked on stolidly 


IT HAS GONE VERY DEEP’^ 


251 

and well. The evenings were his worst time, when he 
went back to the empty house at Cheyne Walk and sat on 
the balcony brooding over his troubles, until the light 
faded and an eerie darkness crept over the river. 

I suppose many men have to go through this sort of 
thing, he would say to himself, trying to philosophise 
in his old way, but if any one had seen his face ! “ What 
does our glorious Will say ? — ‘ Men have died from time 
to time and worms have eaten them, but not for love.' 
Ah, but he also says, ‘ How bitter a thing it is to look into 
happiness through another man's eyes !' " And some- 
times, when the silence and solitude oppressed him ter- 
ribly, he would picture to himself the dreary future. “ I 
shall never marry," he would say. “ There is only one 
woman in the whole world that I want, and she will have 
nothing to do with me and my love, and no other woman 
shall ever be my wife." And then he would wonder sadly 
what life would be like when he was an old bachelor; 
would he be living on here with Amias and Verity, or 
would he go back to his mother and do his duty to her 
in her old age? But with all his bitter ruminations he 
never let himself go again, but battled manfully with his 
pain, though as the days went on he grew paler and thin- 
ner, and looked wretchedly ill. 

Malcolm knew that his mother and Anna were back at 
Queen's Gate, but it was quite ten days before he saw 
them. He dreaded the ordeal of his mother’s searching 
glances ; but at last one evening he plucked up his cour- 
age and went. 

Anna, who saw him coming, flew down the staircase 
to meet him. She looked younger than ever, and quite 
pretty, with the soft pink colour in her cheeks and her 
fair hair; but her smile faded when she saw Malcolm’s 
face. 

'' Oh, Malcolm, have you been ill ?" she asked in an 
alarmed voice. 


252 


HERB OF GRACE 


“ No, dear, not ill — only a trifle seedy and out of sorts. 
Come, let me look at you, lady fair ?” and he pinioned her 
lightly. Good child,” he continued approvingly, “ I 
shall tell the mater you do her credit.” 

Yes, I am quite well, and quite rested ; and oh, Mal- 
colm, I am so glad to see you again!” Then he smiled 
at her kindly, and they went upstairs hand in hand. Mrs. 
Herrick, hearing their voices, came out on the landing to 
greet her son. Her manner was more than usually affec- 
tionate. 

“ My dear boy,” she said, “ what an age it is since we 
saw you 1 It is more than a fortnight since you even 
wrote. When did you come back to town ?” 

Malcolm had dreaded this question, but he was com- 
pelled to answer it truthfully. 

About ten days ago,” he returned coolly ; he knew his 
mother never tolerated excuses. 

Ten days, and you have never been near us 1” Then 
her tone changed. Have you been ill, Malcolm ?” and 
she regarded him with undisguised anxiety. 

Anna asked me the same question,” he replied, im- 
patiently. “ I have only been out of sorts, as I tell her — 
rather off my feed and that kind of thing.” Then Mrs. 
Herrick said no more on that subject, but as they sat at 
dinner the keen gray eyes were often fixed on his face. 
Malcolm did his part manfully : he talked and questioned 
Anna about her doings ; he would not brook an instant’s 
silence. Anna must tell him this and that about her water- 
party and the picnic, and those wonderful people who 
tried to force an acquaintance on them ; he would not let 
her off, though more than once the girl looked wistfully 
at him. Why did he not tell them about Staplegrove? 
He had not once mentioned the Wood House and the 
Templetons. Was anything wrong with him ? He did not 
look himself ; and she had never before noticed those lines 
on his forehead. He looked different somehow in these 


IT HAS GONE VERY DEEP’^ 


253 


two months. When he went on to the balcony to smoke 
his cigarette she followed, and stood silently beside him, 
until he turned and saw her anxious face. 

Well, Annachen,” one of his pet names for her, “ what 
is it, little woman?” Then her soft hand smoothed his 
coat-sleeve. 

“ Malcolm dear, I don’t like to ask, but I am sure some- 
thing has gone wrong between you and your friends at 
the Wood House ; you have not once mentioned their 
name, and there is such a sad, sad look in your eyes.” 
Malcolm took the girl’s slender wrists and held them 
firmly. 

“ Anna, you are my dear little sister, are you not?” 

Oh yes,” in a shrinking voice, for he was evidently 
waiting for an answer. * 

A faithful little sister, who will not misunderstand 
her brother, even if he doesn’t confide in her? 

“ Anna, you are right, and something is troubling me 
— something that can never be set straight in this world; 
but not even to you can I speak of it.” Then she knew, 
and in her innocent love she would fain have comforted 
him. 

“ I am very sorry — very, very sorry,” was all she could 
find to say. 

‘‘ I am sorry too,” he returned gently, and then he 
kissed her cheek, and Anna stole away sadly to her own 
room. If she shed tears they were for him, and not for 
herself. Anna’s affection for her adopted brother was 
perfectly unconscious and selfless ; she never indulged in 
unwholesome introspection ; she never asked herself why 
her heart ached that night, and a sense of loneliness and 
desolation stole over her. 

Malcolm was unhappy, that was her one thought — 
things had gone wrong with him. Oh, if she could only 
give him his heart’s desire! This wonderful unknown 
Elizabeth — had she refused him? Was there some one 


254 


HERB OF GRACE 


else? Alas, these questions were not to be answered. 
She must play her part of a faithful little sister, who must 
ask nothing, refuse nothing. 

Malcolm’s ordeal was not yet over. When he threw 
away his cigarette and went back to the drawing-room, 
he found his mother alone. 

'' I thought Anna was with you,” he said apologetically, 
“ or I would not have stayed out there so long. I am 
afraid I must be going now.” 

You have ‘your latch-key,” she returned quietly; “ sit 
down a moment, I want to speak to you, Malcolm. You 
are not yourself this evening, something has gone wrong.” 
Again Anna's very words. He was silent. Why had his 
womankind such sharp eyes? 

“ I am a bit flattened out,” he acknowledged, “ but I 
shall be all right in a day or two;” but she passed this 
by almost contemptuously. 

Something is troubling you,” she continued, and to 
judge by your looks it is no light thing. You have 
grown thinner, Malcolm.” 

“ Oh, I was always one of the lean kine,” he returned 
lightly; but she seemed almost affronted at the little 
joke. 

Does that mean you do not intend to tell me your 
trouble?” and here her eyes grew very wistful. “You 
are my only son, Malcolm;” she never called him her 
only child, her adopted daughter was too dear to her. 
“ Is there anything that I can do to help you ?” 

“ Nothing — nothing,” and he kissed her hand grate- 
fully, for her motherly tone touched his heart. “ Mother 
dear, forgive me if I cannot speak to you or Anna about 
this.” 

“ Not even to poor little Anna?” 

“ No, not even to her. Mother, please do not mis- 
understand me, or think me ungrateful, but there are 
some things of which a man does not find it easy to 


“ IT HAS GONE VERY DEEP” 255 

speak.” Then Mrs. Herrick said no more ; she must bide 
her time, and until then she could only pray for him. 

And up in her pretty room Anna was praying her 
guileless, innocent prayers, and watering every petition 
with her tears. 

How could she — how could she ?” she cried more than 
once ; how could any woman refuse my dear Malcolm ?” 

Can such prayers help? Yea — a thousand times yea! 
Only He who reads human hearts knows the value of 
such prayers 1 When the son — the brother — the lover — 
has gone into the battle of life, when his strength is fail- 
ing and the Philistines are upon him, it may be that the 
pure petition of some loving heart may be as an invisible 
shield to withstand the darts of the evil one, or haply 
that “ arrow drawn at a venture” which else had pierced 
between the joints of his armour. “ I said little, but I 
prayed much for you, my son,” Mrs. Herrick once said 
to Malcolm in after-years when they understood each 
other better, and he knew that she spoke the truth. 


CHAPTER XXVI 


“ I SEE LIGHT now” 

Every man’s task is his life-preserver. — Emerson. 

Life is an opportunity for service. — Dr. Westcott. 

It is in the silence that follows the storm, and not in the silence 
before it, that we should search for the budding flower . — Hindu 
Proverb. 

One gray October afternoon, a fortnight later, Mal- 
colm was walking down Victoria Street, when he came 
face to face with Colonel Godfrey. The Colonel, who 
was full of business as usual, seemed unfeignedly pleased 
at the meeting. 

“ This is a stroke of good luck !” he exclaimed in his 
hearty way. '' You are just the man I want, Herrick. I 
was rather in a fix, and was going to Victoria for one of 
those boy messengers; but you will do my business for 
me, like a good fellow? Have you anything particular 
to do?” 

“ Nothing special. I was only going to the Army and 
Navy Stores for some stationery.” Then the' Colonel 
looked still more delighted. 

“ There, I was sure of it ! My wife is in the tea-room 
at this very minute expecting me to join her. I should 
have been punctual to the minute, only I came across 
Erskine of ours; he wants my advice about a mare he 
is thinking of buying, and he was so pressing that I felt 
I must send Catherine a message.” 

And I am to do the job for you? All right: Barkis 
is willin’.” And then they both laughed at the familiar 
words, for Colonel Godfrey loved and studied his Dickens 
as some men study their classics. 

256 


'^1 SEE LIGHT NOW’^ 


257 


“ Tell her to be at the entrance at a quarter to six, and 
I will be there. Well, I must be off, Erskine will be wait- 
ing for me.” And the Colonel saluted Malcolm and 
marched off with his head in the air, while more than 
one fashionable lounger turned round to look at the fine 
soldierly figure. 

At this hour the refreshment-rooms at the Army and 
Navy Stores were generally crowded, and for two or 
three minutes Malcolm searched them vainly, before he 
discovered Mrs. Godfrey sitting alone at a table at the 
other end of the long room. 

She gave an exclamation when she saw him. “ Life 
is full of surprises,” she said with the bright, vivid smile 
that always welcomed her favourite — Alick promised 
to join me here !” And Malcolm sat down beside her and 
gave her the Colonel’s message. 

Mrs. Godfrey was evidently well used to these mes- 
sages, for she received it with becoming resignation. 

“ I have ten minutes to spare,” she observed serenely, 

so you had better order yourself some tea, and we can 
tell each other our news. By the bye, how long have you 
been in town?” And when Malcolm told her nearly a 
month, she seemed surprised. 

I made up my mind you were still at Staplegrove,” 
she replied ; though, now I come to think of it, there 
has certainly been no mention of you in Elizabeth’s last 
two letters. By the bye,” turning to him with her cus- 
tomary quickness — but Malcolm was just then study- 
ing the menu — “ what do you think of this engage- 
ment ?” 

“ I think it is for me to put the question to you,” he 
returned with admirable sang-froid ; but one hand 
clenched itself so tightly under the table that the marks 
of the nails were in the palm. 

Then I may as well be frank and tell you that I would 
forbid the banns if I could. Elizabeth ought to have mar- 

17 . 


258 


HERB OF GRACE 


ried better — she is far too fine a creature to throw herself 
away on David Carlyon.” 

“ He is a very good fellow/’ observed Malcolm rather 
feebly; it was hard lines that he should be expected to 
discuss this. 

“ Oh yes, he is a good fellow,” a little contemptuously. 
“ I remember I liked him very well when we were down 
at the Wood House this spring; there is nothing to say 
against the young man, he is as good as gold, and an 
excellent clergyman; and he is gentlemanly too — ^both 
the Carlyons are that ; but,” very decidedly, “ he is not 
good enough for Elizabeth.” 

Malcolm agreed with every word, but he dared not 
trust himself to say so; he waited a moment, and then 
said quietly — 

'' It seems that Miss Templeton holds a different 
opinion; she appears quite satisfied with her choice.” 

“ Satisfied” — and here Mrs. Godfrey gave' a little laugh. 
“ To judge from her letters — and we have been corre- 
sponding pretty freely lately — one would think she was a 
girl in her teens ; she is absurdly happy — even Dinah says 
so. But between you and me I don’t believe Dinah is a 
bit better pleased than the rest of us.” 

What does the Colonel think ?” asked Malcolm, feel- 
ing as though he ought to say something. 

Oh, Alick always agrees with me, though he ex- 
presses his ideas rather differently. He took quite a fancy 
to Mr. Carlyon, and they were always together last 
spring; so of course he will not say much — only he will 
have it that he is not big enough or strong enough for 
Elizabeth. ‘ She will master him, and make him look 
small,’ that was what Alick said. They are not to be 
married until Easter, I hear, and Dinah wishes them to 
live at the Wood House.” 

Malcolm had never felt anything like the sudden throb 
of pain that shofr through him when Mrs. Godfrey said 


SEE LIGHT NOW’’ 259 

this ; he grew so pale that she rose hastily, thinking the 
room was too hot for him. 

“ Shall we go downstairs?” she said kindly; “the at- 
mosphere of this place is quite suffocating.” And Mal- 
colm agreed to this; he was just thinking that he would 
make some excuse to leave her, when to his chagrin she 
led the way to the little waiting-place by the entrance, 
and, seating herself, beckoned to him to follow her ex- 
ample. “ There is something I ought to tell you,” she 
said rather seriously ; “ it is nice and quiet here, and 
there is plenty of fresh air. You are not looking the 
thing, Mr. Herrick; you are thinner — much thinner; I 
am afraid you have been working too hard.” 

“ Oh, no, I cannot lay that flattering unction to my 
soul,” he returned. “ Is this what you have to tell me ? 
for in that case I must remark that I have about a ton of 
stationery on my mind.” 

“ No, do be quiet a moment,” and her faultlessly gloved 
hand rested on his arm. “ There is really something I 
want to say. You know we saw Cedric when he 
was staying at Fettercairn?” Malcolm’s forced rigidity 
relaxed. 

“ Oh, yes, Cedric told me that in one of his letters.” 

“The Wallaces are nice people, and in our cramped 
quarters the Hall was rather a find. Sir Richard and my 
husband took to each other, and Lady Wallace and I fol- 
lowed suit.” 

“ That must have been a pleasant sort of arrangement,” 
observed Malcolm. 

“ I liked the girls too, they were so honestly, frankly 
ugly ; and they were so good-natured, and so delightfully 
aware of their shortcomings, that they were quite refresh- 
ing. Fancy Martha, the eldest girl, saying to me seri- 
ously, * Dick is the only one who takes after mother and 
father ; he is really nice-looking, you know, but Ailie and 
I are a couple of squat little toads. Now, please don’t 


26 o 


HERB OF GRACE 


laugh, Mrs. Godfrey,' she went on, ‘ for we are very 
fond of toads, and they have such bright, projecting 
eyes.' What on earth could I say ! for indeed poor Mar- 
tha is almost grotesque-looking, and yet one can’t help 
loving her. I know I had a fit of laughing, and both of 
them laughed with me." 

Cedric always said they were good sort of girls." 

“ Cedric — oh, he is their hero. By the bye, Mr. Her- 
rick, did you know the Jacobis were staying a mile and a 
half from Fettercairn? Ah I thought so" — as Malcolm 
started and frowned — I was sure that bad boy never let 
any of you know." 

“ Were they there all the time?" 

Yes, they all travelled together. Mr. Jacobi had 
taken the cottage they call Shepherd's Hut, because at one 
time Sir Richard's shepherd lived there; but a room or 
two has been added, and people take it for the fishing. 
Alick rather thought of it himself, only the rooms are so 
small, and one of the chimneys smoked; we were far 
more comfortable at the shooting-lodge." 

“I suppose Miss Jacobi was there too?" 

“ Of course she was there," in a significant tone, and 
Cedric and Dick Wallace spent most of their time with 
them. I believe they fished, and wandered over the 
moors, and when they were not at Shepherd's Hut the 
Jacobis were at the Hall. Mr. Herrick, I am afraid — I 
am really afraid that that foolish boy Cedric is head over 
ears in love with Leah Jacobi." 

‘‘ It looks rather shady," acknowledged Malcolm ; “ he 
is not the sort of fellow to keep things to himself." Then 
with a sudden change of tone — “ Did you tell his sisters ?" 

‘‘I just mentioned the fact of their being there; and 
then Elizabeth’s engagement occupied my attention. 
Young Dick was half in love too. Miss Jacobi is really 
very handsome, but, as Alick says, she ought to marry 
a man at least ten years older." 


‘‘I SEE LIGHT NOW’ 


261 

My dear lady, she will never marry Cedric ; she is 
only fooling him a hit” 

“ Don’t be too sure of that,” returned Mrs. Godfrey 
quietly ; “ you know I am rather observant, and it struck 
me more than once that Mr. Jacobi was playing a double 
game. He seemed at one time to take a great deal of 
notice of Dick Wallace, and Cedric was rather shunted. 
But one Sunday afternoon, when Mr. Jacobi and Sir 
Richard had been having a long walk together, he sud- 
denly changed, and Cedric was in favour again.” 

'' I am afraid I don’t quite follow you,” returned Mal- 
colm, who certainly did not understand what she meant 
to convey to him. 

Mrs. Godfrey arched her eyebrows in surprise. 

“ My dear friend, you are not generally so dense. 
Don’t you see the poor man had never heard of the 
existence of Ralph Wallace, and so he thought Master 
Dick was heir to the baronetcy — voila tout” 

Oh, I see light now.” 

Sir Richard, who is immensely proud of his eldest 
son, entertained his companion with graphic descriptions 
of Ralph, Mrs. Ralph, and all the Ralph olive branches; 
and of course Mr. Jacobi was immensely interested. But 
he was rather cool to poor Dick that evening, and now 
Cedric is in the ascendant again.” 

Malcolm reflected for a moment ; then he said in rather 
a puzzled tone — 

Of course I see my bearings now, but all the same 
I am not out of the fog. At the garden-party at the Wood 
House Jacobi was evidently fishing for information ; but 
he got precious little, I can tell you. But I remember he 
seemed to know far more than I did about the Temple- 
tons” — here Malcolm’s voice unconsciously changed ; he 
even told me about the tin mine that had been discovered 
on a Cornish farm that belonged to them.” 

‘'I wonder where he got his information,” observed 


262 


HERB OF GRACE 


Mrs. Godfrey thoughtfully. '' But he was quite correct. 
Mr. Templeton was not a rich man by any means; he 
was just a country squire, with a moderate income, which 
his first wife brought him, and of course her money was 
left to her daughters. Cedric is absolutely dependent on 
his sisters.’^ 

“ Oh, Jacobi quite understands that.’^ 

“ So much the better. Well, then, three or four years 
ago this mine was discovered, and that beggarly little 
farm has brought them quite a fortune. Elizabeth told 
me that their income was nearly doubled.” 

“ Oh, then Jacobi was right when he said they were 
rich.” And then Malcolm smiled bitterly as he remem- 
bered the two maiden ladies of uncertain age. 

Of course he was right. Dinah was talking to me 
on this very subject last May. She said then that she 
felt that Elizabeth would marry, and that in that case she 
would like her to have the Wood House. Of course, I 
am telling you this in confidence. ‘ Cedric will be my 
heir,' she continued ; ‘ but I do not wish him to know this 
at present. It will be better for him to work, and not eat 
the bread of idleness and of course I approved of this. 
Now, Mr. Herrick, I must not wait a moment longer. 
Why do you not come down to the Manor House for a 
quiet Sunday ?” But Malcolm excused himself. He was 
busy; he had been away so much, he could not take any 
more holidays, and so on. Mrs. Godfrey looked as though 
she hardly believed him. 

“ It would do you good,” she persisted, looking at him 
very kindly. “ This week we have a young American 
coming to us for two or three nights — Hugh Rossiter, 
the famous bear-hunter. I have often mentioned him to 
you. Alick is devoted to him; he says of all the acute 
Yankees he is the acutest, and that he could see through 
any number of brick walls. No, I will not ask you to 


“I SEE LIGHT NOW’^ 263 

meet him. Bears are not in your line. Come the week 
after.^’ But Malcolm shook his head. 

Much as he valued his friends, and dearly as he loved 
to be with them, the Manor House was the last place for 
him just then. Elizabeth’s name would be frequently 
mentioned, and there would be constant references to the 
Wood House, and he fancied that at some unguarded 
moment he might betray himself. At present Mrs. God- 
frey had no suspicion. She very naturally attributed his 
jaded looks to overwork, and he had been able to mask 
his feelings, except at that one dreadful moment. When 
she spoke of the intended marriage the sudden sickening 
pain at his heart told him that he could not trust himself. 
As he walked towards the station, when he had done his 
business, he pondered over all Mrs. Godfrey had told 
him. 

Was it possible that the sisters had known all these 
weeks that Cedric had been thrown into daily and hourly 
contact with Leah Jacobi and her brother? Was it likely 
that Cedric had told them that there was even such a place 
as Shepherd’s Hut? 

Perhaps he did not mean to wilfully deceive them. 
Very probably he had his excuse ready. Malcolm could 
almost hear his words. “ I said nothing about the Jacobis 
because I knew your prejudice, and I did not want to 
fluster you. I thought Mrs. Godfrey would spin her 
yarn, and I left it to her. It was not my fault if the 
Wallaces took to them, and that they were often up at 
Fettercairn.” Some such words Cedric would say when 
he saw his sisters. 

What a blessing term had begun and he was back at 
Oxford! He was safe from the Jacobis there. They 
would be in town probably ; and then the fancy came into 
his head that he would find that out for himself before he 
went home. His evening hours always hung heavily on 
his hands, and a walk more or less would not hurt him, 


264 


HERB OF GRACE 


That was the best of living with Bohemians. No one 
questioned his movements, or took it amiss if he were 
an hour or two late for meals. 

He knew where the Jacobis lived — Cedric had told him 
—at 12 Gresham Gardens; so he went on to Queen’s 
Road by train. 

It was quite dark by that time, but he would just pass 
by the house and see if it were lighted up. His curiosity 
to know if they were there rather surprised himself. 
When he came in sight of No. 12 the door opened, and, 
unwilling to be seen, he stole into the portico of the next 
house, which was dark and uninhabited, and waited there 
for a moment. 

He could hear Saul Jacobi’s voice distinctly, smooth 
and unctuous as usual, and Leah’s deep, flute-like tones 
chiming in. Somebody, a young man he guessed, was 
answering her. You will not be late on Monday. I 
always like to be in good time for a new piece.” 

'' That is so like a woman,” interrupted her brother in 
a jeering voice. “Don’t attend to her, old fellow; we 
have seats in the stalls, and you can please yourself.” 

“ You bet, I always do that !” was the answer, in a 
slightly nasal tone. “ Ta-ta, Jacobi ;” and then a mus- 
cular, active-looking young man ran down the steps. 
Malcolm had just a glimpse of a lean brown face and 
deeply-set eyes, and then the door closed. 

“ Another string to the Jacobi bow,” he thought as 
he followed him slowly. “ I wonder how many he has.” 
And then, as he walked back to the station, he made up 
his mind that as soon as possible he would run down to 
Oxford and have a talk with Cedric. “ I think I could 
manage it on Friday or Saturday,” he thought. “ I 
should soon find out for myself if those people have done 
him any mischief.” 

Malcolm felt his conscience easier when he had planned 
this. Mrs. Godfrey had really made him very anxious 


‘‘I SEE LIGHT NOW’’ 


265 


about the boy. That evening he was less self-centred; 
the conversation had roused him; it gave him a dreary 
sort of satisfaction to know that there was still something 
that he could do for her. 

He ate his supper with something of his old appetite, 
and the next evening he went to Queen’s Gate and made 
himself very pleasant to his mother and Anna. “ I think 
I shall run down to Oxford to-morrow or the next day,” 
he said casually as he bade them good-night, “ and look 
up Cedric Templeton,” and he was still in the same mind 
when he woke the next morning. He would go to Lin- 
coln’s Inn and open his letters and see if he could get 
away that afternoon. But as he entered his chambers 
Malachi handed him a telegram that had just come. It 
was from the Manor House. “ Please come at once. 
Hugh Rossiter here. Important news about Jacobi. — 
Godfrey.” 


CHAPTER XXVII 


HUGH ROSSITER SPINS HIS YARN 
Speak to me as to thy thinkings, 

As thou dost ruminate, and give thy worst of thoughts 
The worst of words. 

Othello. 

The reward of one duty is the power to fulfil another. — 
George Eliot. 

Malcolm read the telegram twice. Then he took up 
his time-table. A quarter of an hour later he was in a 
hansom on his way to the station. With all his imprac- 
ticable fads and fancies, he was not one to let the grass 
grow under his feet. It was quite early, barely noon, 
when he walked up the hill leading to the Manor House ; 
nevertheless Mrs. Godfrey was evidently on the watch for 
him. 

“ Good man,” she said approvingly ; “ I knew you 
would not fail me and then she led him into the morn- 
ing room, her own special sanctum, which opened into 
her husband’s study. 

Colonel Godfrey always called it his study, though it 
may be doubted if he ever studied anything but his Times, 
Spectator, and his three favourite authors, Thackeray, 
Dickens, and Kingsley; but his wife was a great reader, 
and there were few modern books that she could not dis- 
cuss and criticise. 

‘‘ And now, my dear lady, what is wrong ?” asked Mal- 
colm. He spoke with the coolness of the well-bred Eng- 
lishman, who refuses to give himself away. In reality the 
telegram had made him very anxious — his old friend 
would not have summoned him without a good reason; 
but this was not apparent in his manner. 

266 


HUGH ROSSITER SPINS HIS YARN 267 


Wrong!” she replied; “ I think everything is wrong. 
Mr. Rossiter has been making us so uncomfortable; by 
his account Mr. Jacobi is a mere vulgar adventurer, if not 
worse.” 

“ And Mr. Rossiter knows him ?” 

Yes, in a sort of way. Miss Jacobi is evidently the 
attraction there. As he says himself, he knocks up against 
lots of shady characters in his nomadic existence. But 
you must question him yourself. It was Alick who made 
me send you the telegram, as Mr. Rossiter goes back to 
town this evening.” 

“ You were quite right to send for me,” returned Mal- 
colm, and then he followed her into a pleasant room 
with a bay window overlooking the front drive. 

Malcolm gave a slight start of recognition when he saw 
the American. It was not the first time he had seen the 
lean brown face and deep-set eyes, but he kept this to 
himself. In spite of his nasal twang and a little surface 
roughness, Hugh Rossiter was decidedly a gentleman: 
the mere fact of his presence at the Manor House was a 
sufficient proof of this. But he was evidently a very ec- 
centric and unconventional being. In age he was about 
seven-and-thirty. 

Malcolm, who felt his position was somewhat delicate, 
hardly knew how to begin the conversation ; but Colonel 
Godfrey soon put things on a comfortable footing. 

'' Look here, Rossiter,” he said frankly, we are all 
friends here, and you may speak out. Mr. Herrick is very 
much interested in this young fellow, Cedric Templeton, 
and acts as a sort of guide, philosopher, and friend to 
him. He has always put his foot down as far as the 
Jacobis were concerned; he and my wife were dead 
against them.” 

“ I never believed in the man,” observed Malcolm ; 
“ there was no ring of true metal about him.” 

“"You are about right there,” returned the American; 


268 


HERB OF GRACE 


but I have come across worse fellows than Saul Jacobi. 
He is a clever chap — about as cute as they make ’em, and 
knows a trick or two; he is not too nice, does not stick 
at trifle's, and the almighty dollar is his only deity.” 

“ Do you mind telling my friend Herrick all you said 
to us?” asked Colonel Godfrey. 

Not the least, if you have a taste for chestnuts,” and 
Hugh Rossiter laughed in a genial way. “ I owe you a 

good turn. Colonel ” but here Colonel Godfrey held 

up a warning hand. “ Well, I suppose I must spare your 
blushes, so I will take up my parable.” 

“ May I ask you one question first ?” interrupted Mal- 
colm. “ How long have you known these people ?” 

“ About six or seven years, I should say,” was the 
answer. “ Jacobi was a billiard-marker in San Francisco 
when I first came across his trail, and his sister had just 
married an Italian count.” 

Married ! Leah Jacobi married ! What on earth do 
you mean?” 

“ That’s so,” returned the American coolly. “ Count 
Antonio Ferrari — that was the name ; a hoary old sinner 
with a pedigree that nearly reached to Adam, and as rich 
and miserly as Shylock. He bid high for the girl, I can 
tell you that, but I believe our friend Saul had a tough 
job to get her to marry him.” 

“ He is a greater brute than I thought him,” returned 
Malcolm in a disgusted tone. That poor girl !” Then 
Hugh Rossiter looked grave. 

“ It was a bit rough on her, but Jacobi was in Queer 
Street just then, and the old fellow gave him a helping 
hand.” 

“Jacobi is an Italian Jew, is he not?” Mr. Rossiter 
nodded. 

“ Yes, his father was an artist model in Rome — a fine- 
looking old fellow, I believe — and his mother sold flowers 
in the market. Some one told me she had been a model 


HUGH ROSSITER SPINS HIS YARN 269 

too, and that they were rather a shady couple ; but peace 
to their manes ! They have joined the majority long ago.” 

“ And Saul Jacobi was a billiard-marker?” 

Yes, till they turned him out; and then he became 
valet to a young millionaire who had more dollars than 
brains. I was shooting grizzlies in the Rockies then, and 
did not come across him again until eighteen months ago. 
The millionaire was dead then; he never had any con- 
stitution worth mentioning, and he was evidently gradu- 
ating for the idiot asylum. You bet, he would have taken 
a first class there, for he had fits, poor beggar ; so it was 
a mercy that he went where the good niggers go.” 

“ May I ask where you met Jacobi, Mr. Rossiter?” 

To be sure you may, and I have no objection to 
answer. It was the Hotel de Belleville at Paris. He was 
sitting opposite to me at table-d’hote, and his clothes were 
so new and glossy that I contemplated them with admira- 
tion, not unmixed with awe. He had a valuable ring on 
his finger, and a superb orchid in his buttonhole, and 
looked like a millionaire himself; things had improved 
with him, and the billiard-marker and valet were safely 
shunted. Miss Jacobi was with him” — and here Hugh 
paused a moment — “ and she was handsomer than ever.” 

“ Miss Jacobi — I suppose you mean the Contessa Fer- 
rari ?” 

No, Mr. Herrick, the marriage had worked badly. 
Count Antonio was an infernal brute — excuse my strong 
language. After a few months his behaviour was so 
i cious that the poor thing left him and fled to her 
brother for protection. It would have been difficult, nay 
impossible, for her to obtain a divorce. Count Antonio 
was a wily old rascal, and he had too much influence at 
court. There had been no proper settlements; he had 
cheated them all through. Some people say he was mad, 
that his father had been in a lunatic asylum ; but when he 
died he left all his money to charitable institutions.” 


270 


HERB OF GRACE 


When did he die?’’ 

Hugh Rossiter hesitated a moment. Some time in 
September — I do not know the exact date. But he had 
been failing for months. I know a cousin of his, Count 
Orsino, and he was asking me what had become of the 
woman he married; but I did not give him much infor- 
mation.” 

But why does she call herself Miss Jacobi when she is 
really the Contessa Ferrari?” 

“ Oh, that is just her craze. I believe she was a bit 
queer and unhinged when Jacobi got her back. Anyhow, 
he was obliged to pacify her a bit. She threw away her 
wedding-ring and never again alluded to her wretched 
marriage, and he is obliged to give in to her. I believe 
Jacobi was properly frightened that time. When I saw 
them in Paris Jacobi had just had a run of good luck. It 
is my private opinion he gambles. I once lost a good bit 
of money to him; but a burnt child dreads the fire — eh. 
Colonel ? No more baccarat for me.” 

^^And Miss Jacobi seemed in fairly good spirits?” 

“ Yes,” hesitatingly ; “ but I fancied she had a fit of 
the blues sometimes, as though Count Antonio’s ghost 
haunted her — oh, by the bye, he was still in the land of 
the living then. She and Jacobi seemed good friends, 
though she was evidently afraid of him. He told me one 
day, when he had been rather too free with the Burgundy, 
that she was in his way; that he wanted her to marry, 
and that he intended marrying himself ; but he had prom- 
ised her that her next husband should be young and an 
Englishman. I remember that this greatly surprised me. 
' I understood that Count Antonio was living,’ I ob- 
served; but Jacobi only winked at me in a stupid sort of 
way. ^ Oh, we know all about that, my boy, but the gout 
will soon finish him ; and there is no hurry — Leah is not 
thirty yet, and she is handsomer than she ever was in her 
life ;’ and he filled himself another bumper.” 


HUGH ROSSITER SPINS HIS YARN 271 


Malcolm was silent. Hugh Rossiter had apparently 
finished his recital, for he took up his meerschaum and 
polished it tenderly, an action that was full of suggestion. 
But Colonel Godfrey put his hand on his arm. 

'' One moment, my dear fellow, and then we will go 
out and have a smoke before luncheon. I can see Her- 
rick has something else to ask you. Hurry up, my boy, 
or our friend here will lose patience.’^ 

“ I shall be sorry to tax Mr. Rossiter^s patience,’’ re- 
plied Malcolm ; “ but I hope he will be good enough to 
satisfy me on one point. Is it your opinion,” turning to 
him, that Saul Jacobi and his sister have any designs 
on my friend Cedric Templeton?” 

Hugh Rossiter opened his eyes rather widely at this. 

Well, I suppose so — at least, Jacobi means her to marry 
him. Whew,” with a droll gesture, this is getting a 
trifle hot — you will be telling me next that you did not 
know they are engaged.” 

Engaged ! My good sir, excuse me, but this is no 
joke.” 

Mrs. Godfrey’s face grew anxious. “ You never told 
us that, Mr. Rossiter,” she said rather reproachfully. 

“ I am not sure that I should have let the cat out of the 
bag now,” he replied with a laugh, if Mr. Herrick had 
not asked such a direct question. I am not one for med- 
dling in other folks’ business ; but as this seems a grave 
matter, and my friend Saul is evidently playing the dark 
horse, I will tell you the little I know.” 

“ I shall be obliged to you if you will do so,” returned 
Malcolm, and Hugh Rossiter nodded good-humouredly. 

Well, then, I was dining at Gresham Gardens about 
a fortnight ago, and Jacobi told me in the course of con- 
versation that his sister had never been to Oxford, and 
that they meant to run down for a day or two, and that a 
friend of theirs had offered to be showman and pilot them 
about the place.” 


272 


HERB OF GRACE 


Malcolm muttered something, and Mr. Rossiter 
stopped and looked at him inquiringly; but as he re- 
mained silent he resumed his narrative. 

They put up at the ‘ Ranelagh,' and had a good old 
time, and I believe, from a word Jacobi dropped, that the 
job was done then. I wanted to congratulate the lady, 
but Jacobi said that would do later on; his sister wished 
the engagement to be kept quiet, she had not been a 
widow for many weeks, and so on ; so of course I took my 
cue. I am bound to say that Miss Jacobi seemed in un- 
usually good spirits.’’ 

And this is all you have to tell me ?” asked Malcolm 
hurriedly. 

“ Well, now, I call that ungrateful. Colonel,” with a 
droll look at his host ; “ here I have been talking myself 
dry for the last hour.” 

And I am infinitely obliged to you,” returned Mal- 
colm, trying to smile. “ The question is what are we to 
do next — there seems no time to be lost.” And then, be- 
fore any one could speak, he added, ‘‘ I think it would be 
best for me to go down to Oxford at once.” And as they 
all agreed that this would be the wisest course to pursue, 
Malcolm settled to go down by an early afternoon train. 

They went out on thq terrace after this, and Hugh 
Rossiter entertained them with a description of his ad- 
ventures in Colorado, to which Malcolm listened some- 
what absently ; but once, when Colonel Godfrey had left 
them for a moment together, the American broke off his 
story rather suddenly. 

“ Look here, Mr. Herrick,” he said quickly, “ I want to 
give you a straight tip. If the youngster will not listen 
to reason, and you find yourself in a fix, just talk to the 
girl herself.” 

“To Miss Jacobi?” for he was naturally surprised at 
this piece of advice. 

“ Yes, to the fair Leah herself. Oh, the girl is not so 


HUGH ROSSITER SPINS HIS YARN 273 


bad, considering her antecedents and the way she has 
been educated. Think of her own flesh and blood selling 
her to that son of Belial ! Old Beelzebub, I call him. No 
wonder she got a bit queer. Jacobi knows how to manage 
her: she is fond of him, but she is afraid of him too. 
You will have to get her alone, remember that.” 

“ Oh, that’s the difflculty. Besides, I am not on visit- 
ing terms with the Jacobis.” 

My good sir, what does that matter ! I am to give 
you a straight tip, am I not? Well, then, to the best of 
my knowledge Miss Jacobi is in Kensington Gardens soon 
after ten every morning. She takes the dog for an airing 
before her brother is up. Saul is a lazy beast,” continued 
Hugh Rossiter, “ and is seldom down before mid-day. 
He takes his beauty sleep when the rest of the world is at 
work.” 

Malcolm thanked Mr. Rossiter cordially for this advice, 
and then the Colonel came back to them; but as they 
walked back to the house he stole' more than one glance 
at the young American. The thin brown face was both 
intelligent and sagacious, and there was a keen, searching 
look in the brown eyes. 

Why was this stranger so anxious to help him, he won- 
dered. Was it mere good-humour and a wish to please, 
or had he any private reason of his own for desiring to 
break off this engagement? Had Leah Jacobi’s strange 
beauty ensnared him too ? He seemed to know her habits 
as though he were a constant visitor in Gresham Gardens. 
But his cool, impassive manner gave’ no clue to his feel- 
ings, and at this stage of the proceedings Malcolm was 
not to be enlightened. They parted in the friendliest 
manner. Good luck to you, Mr. Herrick,'" he said cor- 
dially ; don’t forget my straight tip.” 

Mrs. Godfrey walked with Malcolm to the station. 
She wanted a few last words, she said, and her mankind 
had had their innings. 

18 


HERB OF GRACE 


274 

“ There is one thing you must do, if Cedric refuses to 
listen to reason/’ she said very seriously to him ; “ you 
must go down to Staplegrove and tell his sisters every- 
thing.” 

“ I suppose I must/’ he returned ; but he spoke under 
his breath, for this new duty filled him with dismay. He 
had shaken off the dust of Staplegrove, as he believed, for 
ever, and the thought that he must stand face to face with 
Elizabeth again turned him giddy. I suppose in that 
case I must do it,” he went on. His hesitating manner 
made Mrs. Godfrey look at him. 

“ It is the only thing to be done,” she repeated firmly. 
“ You must see them both and tell them all Hugh Ros- 
siter said. Dinah will be very much upset, but Elizabeth- 
never loses her wits ; she will grasp everything in a min- 
ute — Elizabeth has such a clear head, and she never mud- 
dles things — and then you can hold a friendly council.” 

“ Of course I will do what I can to help them,” he re- 
plied quietly, for he had been fully aware of Mrs. God- 
frey’s look; but as he sat in the first-class compartment 
he told himself with some irritation that his position was 
a cruel one. 

It is Carlyon who ought to be the family adviser 
now,” he thought. “ If I could only wash my hands of 
this business ! What a fool Cedric is to get himself into 
this mess. Good lack, to think he has fallen among 
thieves for the second time! The young jackanapes 
seems to have a natural affinity for sharpers and swin- 
dlers. That infernal cad Jacobi I” and here Malcolm boiled 
with impotent wrath as he thought of that dastardly con- 
spiracy to entrap a young and innocent girl. “ I should 
like to horsewhip him,” he went on ; “ how is one to keep 
one’s hands off such a fellow ! He may be a dark horse, 
as Rossiter says, but he will have to reckon with me.” 
And Malcolm straightened his shoulders with quite a mar- 
tial air, as though he were ready to fight to the death. 


CHAPTER XXVIII 

THE LADY CALLING HERSELF MISS JACOBi” 

Master, master! news, ‘old news, and such news as you never 
heard of ! — Taming of the Shrew. 

The first and worst of all frauds is to cheat oneself. — Bailey, 
Festus. 

Malcolm had telegraphed to Verity to pack his Glad- 
stone bag and send it by special messenger to Paddington. 
Verity, who was accustomed to these commissions, had 
fulfilled her orders with neatness and despatch, and he 
found it waiting for him on his arrival at the station. It 
was nearly half-past six when the spires and pinnacles of 
the old collegiate city came in sight, so he drove straight 
to the Randolph,” ordered his room, then dined and 
refreshed himself after his journey; and it was not until 
after eight that he went across to St. John’s and found 
his way to Cedric’s rooms. 

Cedric’s sisters had taken great pride and pleasure in 
furnishing them, and they were the' envy of all his friends. 
A rather impatient Come in,” answered Malcolm’s 
knock. 

Cedric was at his writing-table, but he was evidently 
not at work. He gave a surprised exclamation when he 
saw his visitor’s face; but Malcolm at once perceived 
that he was not welcome. Cedric frowned slightly and 
closed his blotting-case, but not before Malcolm’s sharp 
eyes had caught sight of a cabinet photograph of Leah 
Jacobi. 

“ What on earth has brought you to Oxford ?” asked 
Cedric in rather an uneasy tone. “ I thought it was one 
of our fellows, and was just swearing to myself for for- 

275 


HERB OF GRACE 


276 

getting to sport the oak. I suppose you are staying with 
Dr. Medcalf as usual?” 

“ No, I had no time to let him know ; I am sleeping at 
the ‘ Randolph,’ ” returned Malcolm quietly. “ I am 
sorry to interrupt you, my boy,” with another glance at 
the blotting-case ; “ but I have only a few hours, so I 
have no time to lose. May I take this comfortable chair ?” 
— sinking into it as he spoke. “ I have just dined, so we 
might as well smoke a friendly weed together.” 

“ You can help yourself — there are some excellent 
cigars in that drawer — but I do not feel like smoking 
myself.” Cedric spoke rather sulkily and with none of 
his accustomed anriability. “ Shall I give you some 
whiskey and soda?” But Malcolm refused this refresh- 
ment — no man was more abstemious than he. 

“ If you want to finish your letter I can look at the 
paper for half an hour ;” but this suggestion seemed only 
to irritate Cedric. 

“ Oh, there is no hurry,” he returned hastily ; “ I could 
not write a sentence decently, feeling you were waiting 
for me to finish. Well,” struggling with his ill-humour, 
“ what have you been doing with yourself since you left 
Staplegrove? You look rather seedy and a bit pale about 
the gills — do you and the giant smoke too much ?” 

“ Oh, I am well enough,” replied Malcolm hurriedly. 
‘‘If we come to that, you have rather a weedy appear- 
ance yourself ;” for Cedric looked decidedly thinner, and 
his eyes were almost unnaturally bright. He seemed 
older, too, and changed in some undefinable way ; but he 
had never looked handsomer. Malcolm forgot his own 
troubles in his anxiety to prevent his protege falling into 
the hands of the adventurer, Saul Jacobi. For the mo- 
ment his own soul seemed to yearn over the boy who was 
his sisters’ darling and the object of their thoughts and 
prayers. 

“ Look here, old fellow,” he went on, as Cedric seemed 


‘^MISS JACOBI” 


277 


relapsing into moody silence, “ there is no use beating 
about the bush. I have come down to-night to have a 
talk with you, because a report has reached my ears. Is 
it true that you have been mad enough to engage your- 
self to the lady calling herself Miss Jacobi?” Then Ced- 
ric flushed up, and his eyes blazed with anger. 

“ May I ask if the report be true ?” went on Malcolm, 
taking no notice of Cedric’s fiery looks. 

” I object to the manner in which you frame your 
question,” returned Cedric proudly. Strange to say, at 
that moment he reminded Malcolm of Elizabeth. 

Granted that such a report were true, I fail to see 
where the madness comes in. Any man might consider 
himself fortunate in winning the affections of a woman 
like Leah Jacobi.” 

‘^And you are engaged to her? Speak out, man; I 
suppose you don’t intend to keep your engagement dark ?” 

“ Of course not,” angrily ; but Cedric’s manner was 
decidedly embarrassed, and he seemed unwilling to look 
Malcolm in the face. But I must tell you, Herrick, 
that I strongly object to the way you are questioning me. 
I don’t want to quarrel with you, but what the deuce can 
it matter to you if I choose to keep my private affairs to 
myself for a week or two ! I have reasons of my own 
for not wishing my sisters to hear of my engagement for 
a fortnight or so. I — I,” hesitating and floundering in 
his sentence, “ meant to tell them myself, and to intro- 
duce Leah to them. It is a confounded shame,” lashing 
himself up to great wrath, that it should have leaked out 
in this underhand fashion. May I ask how you got your 
information ?” 

Malcolm considered for a moment; then he made up 
his mind that it was best to be perfectly open. 

“ I had it from a man who knows the Jacobis. His 
name is Hugh Rossiter. He is a friend of the Godfreys.” 

Cedric started. I had quite forgotten that,” he mut- 


278 


HERB OF GRACE 


tered ; “ the fat’s in the fire with a vengeance.” Then 
aloud, “ Why, the fellow’s in love with Leah himself. He 
made up to her, only Jacobi would not hear of it. He’ said 
he could not bear the idea of the roving, uncomfortable 
life she would have to lead as his wife.” 

“ Mr. Rossiter is not well off, is he ?” asked Malcolm 
tentatively. Then Cedric looked at him as if he suspected 
some drrihe pensee. 

'' No, he has lost a good bit of money lately — invested 
it in some rotten concern or other. Jacobi says he can’t 
afford to have a wife.” 

“ I should have thought he would have said the same 
of you,” rather pointedly. He must be aware that you 
have only an allowance from your sisters?” And at this 
plain speaking Cedric reddened again with annoyance. 

“ I suppose I shall have a profession some day,” he 
returned with a lordly air ; “ and as my sisters are rich, 
and Dinah is certainly not likely to marry, I think I may 
safely count on a pretty handsome allowance.” 

If you marry in accordance with your sister’s wish, 
I should think you are right,” returned Malcolm coolly. 
“ My dear fellow, would it not have been as well to find 
this out before you pledged yourself to the lady ?” 

“ There was no necessity for that,” replied Cedric ; 
“ Jacobi seemed quite satisfied with my prospects. He 
is not a bit grasping. He told me that he wished his 
sister to marry a gentleman; that he had been to the 
Wood House and seen my sisters, and he was quite will- 
ing to give his sanction to the engagement; and as Leah 
and I understood each other perfectly, I had no difficulty 
with her. Why don’t you congratulate me, Herrick,” ex- 
claimed the lad excitedly, “ instead of badgering and 
cross-examining me like an Old Bailey witness? I am 
the happiest fellow in existence ! Leah’s a darling — there 
is not such a woman in the world !” 

“Is there not?” returned Malcolm quietly. His face 


“MISS JACOBr 


279 


looked a little haggard as he spoke, and there was a wist- 
ful, pining look in his eyes. Oh, why was the boy so 
like Elizabeth? There was no real similarity — it was 
only a trick of expression, a turn of the head, a sudden 
impulsive movement that recalled her. “ May I ask one 
more question, old fellow? Is it by your own or Mr. 
Jacobi’s wish that the engagement is kept a secret?” But 
Cedric refused to answer this. He said with a good 
deal of dignity that there were limits to everything. He 
had a great respect for Herrick, and always looked upon 
him as his best friend, but he must excuse him answering 
this. 

“ Well — well, we will talk of that again,” returned 
Malcolm; but in his own mind he was certain that Saul 
Jacobi had his own reasons for preventing the news of 
Cedric’s engagement from reaching his sisters’ ears. 
“ There is another question I must ask you. Why do 
you call your fiancee Miss Jacobi?” 

Cedric stared at him. 

“ I suppose because it is her name,” he replied rather 
impatiently. “ What a fellow you are, Herrick ! I think 
your wits must be wool-gathering.” 

“ Oh dear, nothing of the kind ; I am not mad, most 
noble Felix, but in my sane, sober senses. I am quite 
aware the lady you wish to marry was at one time Leah 
Jacobi, but her married name is the Countess Antonio 
Ferrari.” 

“ What !” exclaimed Cedric, springing to his feet ; but 
he added something rather stronger. “ Confound you, 
Herrick, what do you mean by talking such infernal rot ?” 

“ Sit down,” returned Malcolm calmly ; “ I can’t talk 
while you are walking to and fro like the old gentleman. 
My dear boy, I am sorry to give you this shock, but do 
you actually mean to tell me that you do not know that 
Leah Jacobi is a widow — that neither she nor her brother 
have informed you of her previous marriage ?” 


28 o 


HERB OF GRACE 


“ No/’ broke from Cedric’s lips ; he seemed quite 
stunned. Then he exclaimed indignantly, But it is a 
lie — a cursed lie !” 

“ You would hardly dare to say that to Hugh Rossiter’s 
face, Cedric,” returned Malcolm somewhat sternly. “ He 
was my informant ; he knew the Jacobis when Saul Jacobi 
was a billiard-marker in San Francisco, and his sister 
living with her husband in Verona. You have* been badly 
treated, my dear boy — how badly you little know. You 
have been encouraged to make love to a married woman. 
When you were' at Fettercairn, Count Antonio was still 
alive ; he only died last month.” 

Cedric seemed too dazed to take it in. He got up from 
his chair, in spite of his friend’s remonstrance, and began 
to pace the room again. “ Impossible,” he muttered ; “ I 
will not believe it. She knew then that I loved her, and 
she promised to marry me if Saul gave his consent. For 
some reason he seemed to hold off a bit, but we were as 
good as engaged then.” 

“ Ah, I thought so,” returned Malcolm drily ; and then, 
like a skilful surgeon, he did his work thoroughly ; to be 
kind it was necessary to be cruel, so he spared Cedric no 
particulars. He told him all he knew himself ; he saw 
him wince when he spoke of the Roman models and the 
billiard-marker turned into a valet. 

Saul Jacobi told me his father was a banker and 
his mother of noble blood, one of the Orsinos ; I suppose 
he was ashamed of it all, and wanted to keep it back. 
He might have trusted me and told the truth,” faltered 
the lad. 

Instead of which he told you this pack of lies. And 
his sister is no better, for she has lied to you too; and 
this is the sister-in-law you propose to introduce at the 
Wood House — a woman who has allowed you to make 
love to her in her husband’s lifetime !” 

Look here, Herrick,” returned Cedric hoarsely — his 


^‘MISS JACOBF^ 


281 

fresh young face looked quite gray — “ not a word against 
her — not a word against my Leah. You may be right 
about Jacobi — I have had my doubts about him once 
or twice myself; he is not always kind to Leah, he 
bullies her dreadfully and she is afraid of him, and he 
is too fond of getting his own way. But I won’t believe 
that she is to blame. Anyhow, she is more sinned against 
than sinning. I will go to her to-morrow and make her 
tell me everything. No one shall come between us — not 
even Saul Jacobi. Leah shall account to me for this de- 
ception. I will get to the bottom of it as sure as my name 
is Cedric Templeton.” 

Cedric spoke with an air of resolution that secretly sur- 
prised Malcolm. “ It will make a man of him,” he said 
to himself — “ it will make a man of him.” Then he put 
his hand on his shoulder. 

“ My dear boy,” he said kindly, “ I feel for you from 
the bottom of my heart, but you must be very firm. 
There can be no compromise or vacillation in a case like 
this ; you must give her up, Cedric — you must break off 
this unlucky engagement.” But Cedric would not be in- 
duced to promise this ; he would decide nothing until he 
had seen Leah and heard the whole story from her lips. 
“ No one shall come between us,” cried the poor lad ; 

she is my promised wife.” Then Malcolm’s manner 
changed and became more resolute. 

“ It will be a wrench, of course,” he returned ; “ des- 
perate diseases require desperate remedies. But, Cedric, 
listen to me. If you refuse to take my advice you will 
repent it all your life. If you go to Gresham Gardens to- 
morrow you will be a lost man. The Jacobis will talk 
you over and persuade you that black is white. At least 
let me accompany you?” But Cedric absolutely refused 
this, and Malcolm could not press it. 

You mean kindly, Herrick,” he observed hurriedly, 
but a man must manage his own business. I shall 


282 


HERB OF GRACE 


have to leave you now, if I am to see the Dean to-night 
and get permission for a few hours’ absence ; and as I 
shall probably go up by the early train to-morrow, I shall 
not see you again.” 

“ I shall be in my rooms at Lincoln’s Inn by mid-day,” 
returned Malcolm, “ will you come to me there ?” But 
Cedric hesitated. 

I shall have to go back to Oxford,” he returned ; I 
think I had better write to you.” But this proposal by no 
means satisfied Malcolm. 

“ That will not do,” he said decidedly. '' I would 
rather you wired to me from Paddington — the letter can 
follow. Surely you can have no objection,” he continued, 
as Cedric seemed reluctant to do this ; “ it will set my 
mind at rest, and I shall have a better night and then 
Cedric rather ungraciously promised that a telegram 
should be sent. 

“ You must be very firm,” were Malcolm’s parting 
words, and Cedric nodded impatiently as he put on his 
cap and gown. 

Malcolm slept restlessly; he was tired and anxious, 
and had done a hard day’s work. His failure to influence 
Cedric troubled him greatly. 

They will talk him over,” he repeated, '' and that 
woman will lure him into her wiles again and Malcolm 
felt there was grave cause for fear, as he remembered 
Leah’s rare beauty, and the strange brilliancy of her dark, 
melancholy eyes. Oh, what would Dinah Templeton say 
if she knew of the danger that t;hreatened her cherished 
boy! 

Malcolm tossed restlessly on his bed as he tried to 
formulate plans, which he rejected one by one. “If it 
comes to the worst, I must do as Mrs. Godfrey suggests,” 
he thought — “ I must go down to the Wood House and 
take counsel with them;” and in all probability it was 
this thought that kept him wakeful. 


“MISS JACOBI 


283 


The next morning Malcolm learnt from Cedric’s scout 
that his master had left by an early train ; and as he him- 
self had one or two appointments that morning, he only 
waited to swallow a hasty breakfast before he followed 
him. 

For the next few hours he was very busy, and could 
hardly give Cedric a thought ; but as work slackened and 
the afternoon wore on, he wondered at the non-arrival 
of the telegram. It was half-past four before Malachi 
brought in the yellow envelope. Malcolm frowned as he 
read it. 

“ Know all — have forgiven all — engagement holds 
good — sorry cannot take advice. — Templeton.” 

“ Unhappy boy/’ he groaned, the fowler has him in 
his net again.” Then he scrunched the thin paper in his 
hand, and set his teeth hard like a man who sees the 
dentist coming towards him with the forceps. 

“ I must go down to them ; there is nothing else for 
me to do. I dare not take the responsibility of keeping 
this to myself an hour longer. It is all in the day’s work, 
as the lion-tamer said when the lion prepared to bite off 
his head.” And after this grim jest Malcolm summoned 
Malachi and confided the Gladstone bag to his care, and 
they sallied forth together. At Waterloo he sent off a 
telegram to Verity; a few minutes later he was in the 
train and on his way to Earlsfield. 


CHAPTER XXIX 


*^SHE IS A WICKED WOMAN” 

Am I cold — 

Ungrateful — that for these most manifold 

High gifts, I render nothing back at all ? 

Not so ! not cold, but very poor instead. 

E. Barrett Browning. 

To love, is to be made up of faith and service. — Shakespeare. 

It was half-past six when Malcolm reached the well- 
known station, and taking a fly bade the man drive him 
to the King’s Arms,” an old-fashioned inn of good 
repute about half a mile distant from the Wood House. 
Here he secured a room for the night; ordered supper, 
of which he partook without appetite ; then sallied forth 
to pay his call. It was late in October, and the darkness 
of the country roads surprised him, accustomed as he was 
to the well-lighted London streets ; he could scarcely find 
out his bearings until a welcome light streamed out from 
the windows of the Crow’s Nest. Malcolm lingered a 
moment at the little gate. It was there I dwelt in my 
fool’s paradise,” he muttered, '' and tried to eat of the 
forbidden fruit. Now I know good and evil, and am a 
sadder and wiser man.” And then he went on doggedly ; 
but he stopped again before he reached the gate of the 
Wood House, for he knew intuitively that he' had stum- 
bled into the little path leading to the woodlands. He 
strained his eyes through the darkness, but could see 
nothing — only the chill, damp October wind played round 
him, and the smell of moist earth and decaying vegetation 
filled his nostrils. Change and decay in all around I 
284 


“SHE IS A WICKED WOMAN” 


285 


see,” he thought heavily; but as he turned away and 
crossed the road a sudden remembrance came to him 
and made him giddy. 

It was morning or early afternoon, he forgot which, 
and the sunshine was filtering through the firs, and steep- 
ing his senses with the warm, resinous perfume — “ spices 
of Araby,” he had called it to himself, for he loved the 
scent above all things. He had clambered up the bank to 
pick some honeysuckle, and then the little gate had 
clanged on its hinges, and he had peeped through the 
brambles to see who was coming. 

And of course he knew who it was — that tall, robust 
young woman in the white sun-bonnet who came down the 
path swinging her arms slightly, but with the free proud 
step of an empress. “ Elizabeth, Elizabeth !” he had 
whispered even then, and all the manhood within him 
seemed to welcome her gracious presence. Poor fool — 
poor blind fool that he was ! 

Perhaps it was as well that Malcolm stumbled over the 
root of a tree at that moment ; the rude shock roused him. 
“ It is a blessing I have not sprained my ankle,” he said 
to himself ; but he had struck his foot rather severely 
and limped on with difficulty. The pain sobered him, and 
he thought how Elizabeth had told him that they always 
used lanterns in the grounds; and he made up his mind 
to borrow one for his return journey. 

“ I wonder if Carlyon will be there,” he muttered, as 
he went up to the front door. He had never seen it closed 
before, for in summer it was always open from morning 
to night. Somehow the sight chilled him: he was out- 
side in the darkness and the cold, and for him no house- 
hold fires would burn warm and bright, and a bitter sigh 
came to his lips. 

He had raised his hand to the bell, when the door 
opened suddenly, and the rosy-cheeked housemaid he re- 


286 


HERB OF GRACE 


membered peered out into the darkness. She was evi- 
dently very much startled when she saw Malcolm. 

Did you ring, sir ?” she asked in some confusion, “ for 
no one heard a bell. The ladies are still in the dining- 
room, but I will tell Mullins.” 

“ Please do not bring them, I can well wait. I know 
my way to the drawing-room.” And Malcolm put down 
his hat and crossed the hall, which looked warm and 
cheery with its bright fire. 

The lamps had been lighted in the drawing-room, and 
the fireplace was heaped with pine logs that spluttered 
and blazed merrily, and diffused a sort of aromatic fra- 
grance. There were pleasant tokens of feminine occupa- 
tion on the round table: an open book and a knitting 
basket that he knew belonged to Dinah, and a piece of 
embroidery of an ecclesiastical pattern, over which he had 
often seen Elizabeth bending. There were the very gold 
scissors and thimble that she had once left down by the 
Pool, which cost him and Cedric an hour’s search before 
they could find them. How pleased she had been when 
he had brought them back to her ! Malcolm felt an irre- 
sistible desire to hold them in his hand a moment — then 
he turned quickly away. 

There was a little side window in the drawing-room 
that formed a sort of alcove ; it was fitted up very prettily 
with palms and flowering plants, and amongst the foliage, 
stood a beautiful marble figure of a Roman peasant with 
her pitcher on her shoulder. 

Malcolm had often admired it. It was the work of a 
young German sculptor, whom the sisters found in some- 
what distressing circumstances in Rome, with a sick wife 
and hampered with debt. Arnim Freiligrath always re- 
garded the dear ladies, as he called them, as his benefac- 
tresses, for, strange to say, from that time orders flowed 
in upon him, and he was soon looked upon as a rising and 
successful sculptor. 


SHE IS A WICKED WOMAN’^ 


287 


Dinah had once told Malcolm that the woman’s features 
reminded her of Elizabeth, and Malcolm had agreed with 
her. 

“ I think it is the figure that most resembles your sis- 
ter,” he had said ; but you were wise to buy it, it is very 
beautiful, and Arnim Freiligrath is becoming quite the 
fashion.” 

Malcolm stepped up to the alcove ; he would look at his 
favourite water-carrier again. He put aside the heavy 
plush curtains that half-veiled the recess, but the next 
moment he recoiled — for Elizabeth herself was standing 
there, almost as motionless as the marble woman beside 
her. 

She was lost in thought, and had evidently not heard his 
footfall on the soft carpet, and she was gazing out into 
the darkness. Something in her expression arrested Mal- 
colm’s attention: he had never seen her look like that 
before, her lips were pressed tightly together, and her 
eyes were full of sadness. One hand was resting lightly 
on the statue, and Malcolm could see the gleam of the 
opal ring on her finger. 

He feared to startle her, and yet it was impossible for 
him to stand there any longer. He pronounced her name 
almost timidly ; and as Elizabeth started violently and 
turned round, he could see the tears glistening in the 
large gray eyes. 

“ Mr. Herrick,” in an astonished tone, as she gave him 
her hand — it was very cold, and trembled a little in his 
grasp — what makes you steal upon us like a ghost in 
the darkness ? Why did you not tell us you were 
coming ?” 

I thought it would be better not,” he returned quietly. 

I wanted to speak to you and your sister about some- 
thing that seemed to me important.” Then Elizabeth 
gave him one of her quick, searching glances. 


288 


HERB OF GRACE 


“ It is about Cedric/’ she said abruptly — that boy has 
got into trouble again?” Then Malcolm bowed his head. 
They were standing on the rug before the fire now, and 
at Malcolm’s mute answer Elizabeth shivered slightly and 
held out her hands to the blaze as though she were physi- 
cally cold. Malcolm leant for support against the man'-el- 
piece, and watched her for a moment under his shading 
hand — if she had only seen that hungry, eloquent look ! 
But Elizabeth’s eyes were fixed on the fire. Poor Mal- 
colm ! never had she looked more beautiful to him : the 
black velvet gown suited her to perfection, and the an- 
tique Roman necklace she wore just fitted the full white 
throat. This was not the rustic owner of the white sun- 
bonnet, but a grand, imperial-looking Elizabeth. Mal- 
colm felt as though he were fast losing self-control : his 
forehead grew clammy, and though he’ tried to speak — 
to break the embarrassing silence — no words would 
come; but Elizabeth, lost in her own sad thoughts, was 
oblivious of his emotion. 

“ Dinah will be here directly/’ she observed presently ; 

she is engaged just now with a woman from the village, 
but she will not be long, I hope. I trust” — and here she 
looked at him anxiously — “ that you have no bad news 
for us.” 

I am afraid it is not good,” he replied evasively. 

“It has something to do with those odious Jacobis?” 
Again Malcolm bowed his head. 

“ Cedric seems infatuated about them,” she returned, 
with something of her old impetuosity, the words trip- 
ping each other up in the usual Elizabethan way. “We 
thought the man detestable — even Dinah could not toler- 
ate him. Oh,” interrupting herself, “ what am I thinking 
about? you have come all this distance on our account, 
and I have never thought of your comfort — you have 
not dined, of course;” and Elizabeth’s hand was on the 
bell, but he stopped her. 


“SHE IS A WICKED WOMAN’’ 289 

“ I have just had supper at the ‘ King’s Arms,’ where 
I have taken a bed ; I want nothing, I assure you.” 

“ At the ‘ King’s Arms’ !” exclaimed Elizabeth. Then 
she suddenly flushed and bit her lip. She had forgotten 
— how could she suppose that anything would induce him 
to sleep under their roof again! Malcolm’s manner, his 
painful air of consciousness, the deep melancholy in his 
eyes, told her plainly that his trouble was as fresh as ever. 

Elizabeth began to feel nervous ; it was a relief to both 
of them when Mullins entered the room with the coffee. 
“ At least, you will have a cup of coffee,” she said with a 
little effort. “ Mullins, will you put the tray down, and 
tell my sister that Mr. Herrick has come down to speak 
to us on business, and ask her not to keep him waiting.” 

Malcolm did not refuse the coffee. As he took the cup 
in his hand he said in a low voice, “ I hope Mr. Carlyon 
is well.” 

“ Thank you, he is far from well,” she returned gravely. 
“ Mr. Charrington has been away for the last six weeks, 
and he has had far too much to do; he has taken a bad 
cold, and his cough is troublesome. I have been speaking 
to Dr. Randolph to-day, and he thinks the vicar ought to 
come back.” Then she stopped as Dinah came hurriedly 
into the room. Malcolm’s unexpected visit had evidently 
alarmed her. 

“ Oh, Mr. Herrick, what is it ?” she said in such a 
troubled voice that Malcolm felt almost afraid to tell his 
news. Evidently Elizabeth read his thoughts. 

“ You must tell us everything,” she said rather ab- 
ruptly ; “ it will be wrong to keep anything back.” And 
thus admonished, Malcolm began his long story — his 
summons to the Manor House, and Hugh Rossiter’s 
revelation concerning the Jacobi family. The sisters 
listened in breathless silence, only when Malcolm men- 
tioned the words billiard-marker and valet Elizabeth ut- 
tered a quick exclamation, and threw up her head with a 

19 


290 


HERB OF GRACE 


proud gesture, while poor Dinah grew white when she 
heard that her boy was actually engaged. “ It is im- 
possible — there must be some mistake,” she whispered, 
as though to herself — “ our dear boy would never keep 
such a thing from his sisters. Cedric is so frank and 
open, he would never have' secrets from us.” 

Cedric is under a bad influence,” replied Malcolm ; 
“ these people have got hold of him and will not let him 
go.” And then he went on to tell of his interview with 
Cedric, and his total want of success. “ I could do 
nothing,” he went on despondently ; “ I seem to have lost 
my influence with him. I did my best. Miss Templeton,” 
with an appealing look at Dinah’s sad, sweet face; but 
it was Elizabeth who answered him. 

“ Do you think we do not know that,” she returned im- 
pulsively — “ that Dinah and I are not grateful to you ! 
You have taken all this trouble for us — you have been to 
Cookham and Oxford, and now you have come here, and 
you are quite tired and worn out with the worry of it all, 
and we can do nothing for you in return !” and Elizabeth 
quivered with emotion. But Malcolm, suppressing his 
own agitation, tried to turn off her speech with a laugh. 
She was grateful to him — good heavens! she might as 
well have offered a cupful of earth to a man dying of 
thirst I 

“ Let him finish, Betty dear,” observed Dinah faintly ; 

he has more to tell us.” And then Malcolm produced 
the telegram and laid it before them. The sisters glanced 
at each other with dismay, and Dinah’s forehead was fur- 
rowed like an old woman’s. 

“ What is to be done, Mr. Herrick, to save my poor boy 
from this iniquitous marriage?” she inquired in a tremu- 
lous tone, and Elizabeth’s eyes were asking him the same 
question. 

That is just the difficulty, my dear lady,” he replied 
slowly. If I can only see my way clear — Mr. Rossiter 


“SHE IS A WICKED WOMAN 


291 


advised me to speak to Miss Jacobi; he seems to think 
she is more amenable to reason than her brother, and 
probably he is right.” But to Malcolm’s surprise Dinah’s 
mild eyes began to flush angrily. 

“ I have a worse opinion of her than I have of her 
brother,” she said hurriedly ; “ she is a wicked woman — 
she let men make love to her when she knew her husband 
was alive ! If she marries Cedric, I will never see her or 
him either and here Dinah trembled from head to foot. 

Elizabeth, startled by the excitement of one generally 
so gentle, knelt down by her sister and put her arms round 
her. “ Dear Die,” she implored, “ don’t make it worse for 
us all. Mr. Herrick is trying to help us, and we must not 
make things more difficult for him. What do you ad- 
vise?” she continued, turning to Malcolm. “You have 
seen this Leah — would it be better to bribe or frighten 
her?” 

“ That is impossible for me to say,” returned Malcolm, 
averting his eyes quickly from the earnest, troubled face. 
“ I have only exchanged a few words with Miss Jacobi, 
and know little about her.” 

“ You mean the Contessa Ferrari,” interrupted Dinah 
almost harshly ; “ for heaven’s sake let the woman be 
called by her right name !” 

“ It is a name she refuses to own,” he returned quietly. 
“ Will you let me say what I really think ? — you know I 
have only seen her twice. I think she is a wronged and 
unhappy woman, and that her troubles have hardened her 
nature and made her reckless. Her brother tyrannises 
over her, and she has never been free to lead her own life 
or follow her own better impulses, and her beauty and 
wonderful fascination have only been used to further Saul 
Jacobi’s ambitious aims. In my opinion Cedric was right 
when he declared to me that she was more sinned against 
than sinning.” 

“ Then in that case you will be able to influence her,” 


292 


HERB OF GRACE 


returned Dinah quickly. Tell her from me, Mr. Her- 
rick, that if she persists in marrying my poor boy, she 
will be marrying a pauper ; that on the day the marriage 
takes place I shall alter my will, and that my sister Eliza- 
beth will be my heir. Tell her this, and I will write to 
Cedric and let him know what he has to expect.” 

Do you really mean this ?” asked Malcolm, much im- 
pressed by this unexpected resolution on the part of one 
usually so yielding and gentle. 

“ I mean every word,” returned Dinah firmly. “ Yes, 
Betty dear,” as she saw her sister’s astonished face, “ I 
am perfectly serious. You know what Cedric is to me” — 
and here her sweet voice quavered for a moment — if 
it would do him good, I would give him half my fortune 
at this moment, and would never grudge it ; but no money 
of mine shall be used for his undoing. Let him give up 
this woman and come back to me, and there is nothing I 
will not do for him. Am I right, Elizabeth? Do you 
agree with me ?” 

“ I agree with you, and you are always right, darling. 
Mr. Herrick, will you do as she says, and make this Leah 
understand that she has nothing to expect from us. Oh, 
what trouble we are giving you, and we have no right !” 
and here Elizabeth turned her head away in pained con- 
fusion. She had said the wrong thing. Why did not 
Dinah come to her assistance and say some word of grate- 
ful acknowledgment? 

“ You have every right to use me as you will,” re- 
turned Malcolm in a low voice, “ for I have done nothing 
to forfeit your friendship.” And with a dreary attempt 
at a smile — “ A friend is born for adversity.” Then 
Elizabeth rose from her kneeling position, but she did 
not answer — perhaps she could not, for Malcolm’s worn 
face and sad, kind eyes seemed to bring a sudden lump 
to her throat. How good he was — how generous and 
forgiving and unselfish! She longed to take his hand 


“SHE IS A WICKED WOMAN’’ 


293 


and bid God bless him; but she could not trust herself 
or him. “ It has gone too deep,” she said with inward 
wonder, for Elizabeth was truly humble in her estimation 
of herself. Dinah was too much wrapped up in her own 
troubled thoughts to notice Elizabeth’s emotion. 

“ Will you tell me what you mean to do ?” she asked 
anxiously, for Malcolm had risen too as though he in- 
tended to take his leave. He explained briefly that he 
intended to act on Hugh Rossiter’s suggestion. He would 
waylay Leah Jacobi in Kensington Gardens and do his 
best to induce her to give Cedric up. 

“ I shall tell her you have written to him and advise 
her to talk things over with her brother. ^ When he 
knows Cedric Templeton is not his sister’s heir, he will 
be the first to insist that your projected marriage should 
be broken off’ — I shall say some such words to her.” 

“ And you will come down again, and let us know the 
result of your interview?” and Dinah looked at him im- 
ploringly. “ Your room shall be ready for you at any 
time.” 

“ You are very kind,” he returned hesitating. “ My 
room at the ^ King’s Arms’ seems very comfortable.” 
Then Dinah understood and changed colour slightly. 

“ It will be giving you trouble,” she observed regret- 
fully. 

“ No — no, it is not that,” he returned hurriedly; “ but 
it is impossible to say how things may be — what circum- 
stances, or what complications may arise to keep me' in 
town. I will write — you shall not be kept in suspense an 
hour longer than I can help ; and you may depend on me 
that I will do my utmost to break off this wretched en- 
gagement.” 

“ I trust you implicitly,” returned Dinah gravely. 
“ You will forgive me if I cannot thank you properly to- 
night.” 

“ You need not move. Die ; I will light Mr. Herrick’s 


294 


HERB OF GRACE 


lantern for him” — Elizabeth spoke in her old natural 
way. Malcolm stood beside her silently as she performed 
her hospitable task. Then she placed it in his hand. “ I 
wonder how you groped your way through the planta- 
tion,” she said smiling; “but this little glimmer will 
guide you safely. Good-night, Mr. Herrick; we shall 
look eagerly for your promised letter. Poor Dinah will 
have one of her bad sick headaches to-morrow — worry 
always brings them on.” 

“ She looks far from well,” replied Malcolm ; “ I fear 
this has been a great shock to her, and to you too ;” and 
then he shook hands and went out into the darkness. 
When he’ was half-way down the drive he turned round — 
the door was still open, and the cheerful light streamed 
out into the blackness. Elizabeth was standing on the 
threshold looking after him. When she saw him stop she 
waved her hand with a friendly ‘ good-night then the 
door closed, and there was only the October darkness, 
and an eerie, wandering wind moaning through the wood- 
lands. 


CHAPTER XXX 


IN KENSINGTON GARDENS 

If you would fall into any extreme, let it be on the side of 
gentleness. The human mind is so constructed that it resists 
vigour and yields to softness. — S t. Francis de Sales. 

Malcolm went up by an early train the next morning. 
He had a long day’s work before him — a mass of cor- 
respondence to sift, several business interviews, and 
some proofs to revise. It was later than usual when he 
went back to Cheyne Walk, but Verity had put aside his 
dinner for him, and sat beside him while he ate it. She 
even brought him coffee with her own hands. Perhaps 
these little womanly attentions soothed him insensibly — 
though he was so used to them by this time that he was 
almost tempted to take them as a matter of course — for 
his face lost its strained, weary look. 

There is a beautiful fire in your room, Mr. Herrick,” 
she observed cheerfully before she left him. “ I shall tell 
Amias that you are tired, and that he must not expect 
you in the studio to-night.” 

Malcolm smiled gratefully. What a good little soul 
you are. Verity — you always say just the right thing! 
Tell Goliath, with my love, that I am busy, so there must 
be no pipe and no palaver to-night. I shall have to be up 
betimes too;” and then he took counsel with Verity as 
to the hour when his breakfast should be served. 

It was quite true that he had business waiting to be 
done ; nevertheless, as he lay back in his easy-chair by the 
fire, he could not bring himself to take up his pen. At 
this very hour on the previous evening he had been with 

295 


296 


HERB OF GRACE 


Elizabeth ; the dear face — dearer, alas ! than ever — had 
been before him; the changing, characteristic voice, so 
musical yet so uneven, had been in his ears ! He recalled 
her look as she stood so wrapt in thought in the alcove 
before she perceived his presence. Its deep sadness had 
surprised him. What could be troubling her? In a few 
months she would marry the man she loved. Truly God’s 
best gifts were hers — health, wealth, and love — and yet 
the shadowed brow and the eyes misty with unshed tears 
seemed to speak of some hidden sorrow. What could it 
be? That was his last waking thought that night, and 
the question still troubled him when he walked the next 
morning in the direction of Kensington Gardens to keep 
his self-made tryst with Leah Jacobi. 

He knew the gate that was nearest to Gresham Gar- 
dens; but it was long before the hour that Hugh Ros- 
siter had mentioned when he reached it, and began pacing 
up and down like a sentinel on duty. 

Fortunately the morning was fine, and a faint gleam of 
sunshine tried to penetrate the thin haze brooding over 
the Gardens. Although it was the last day of October, 
the air was mild ; but, contrary to his usual custom, Mal- 
colm failed to notice the effect of the clinging mist round 
the leafless trees, the nebulous distances, and the faint 
golden streaks of sunshine; his mind was full of the ap- 
proaching interview and the difficult work that lay before 
him. 

It was so early that the place seemed quite deserted; 
but presently he heard dogs barking, and the next mo- 
ment two little fox-terriers, curiously alike, rushed past 
him intent on their play. He recognised them at once 
from Cedric’s description — they were Tim and Tartar, 
belonging to Saul Jacobi; and he knew their mistress 
was at hand. 

He looked at her intently as she came slowly towards 
him. She wore a dark red dress and jacket, that set off 


IN KENSINGTON GARDENS 


297 

her graceful figure, and her close velvet hat was a darker 
shade of the same colour. 

On any one else the effect might have been too striking, 
but it exactly suited her; and as Malcolm noticed the 
exquisite colour of her face and the wonderful coils of 
black hair, he was obliged to acknowledge that Cedric’s 
temptation had been strong, and that many an older man 
might have lost his heart to so beautiful a creature. 

Leah’s eyes had been fixed on the ground, and she did 
not see Malcolm until she was quite close to him; but, 
though she was evidently surprised to meet him, she only 
bowed gravely, and would have passed on. But Mal- 
colm placed himself at her side. 

You are an early riser. Miss Jacobi,” he observed in 
a friendly tone'. “ Are you always so energetic ?” 

“ I like an early morning walk,” she replied quietly ; 
but there was an uneasy flush on her face, as though 
she found Malcolm’s society embarrassing. I generally 
have the Gardens to myself at this hour. My brother is 
a late riser, and this is my leisure time. I have never 
met you here before, Mr. Herrick ;” and here Leah gave 
him a quick, furtive glance from under her long lashes. 

“ I daresay not,” he retured coolly, “ this is hardly 
my beat. To tell you the truth. Miss Jacobi, my errand 
is to you this morning.” A quick, undefinable expression 
almost resembling fear came over her face; but she an- 
swered him quietly. 

‘'You have come here to talk to me?” with an air of 
well-simulated surprise. “ How could you know my 
habits ? I think,” a little stiffly, “ we have only met 
twice.” 

“ You are quite right. Miss Jacobi. I spoke to you 
first in the porch at Cookham church, and the second 
time at the Etheridges — as far as that goes we are little 
acquainted with each other ; but we have a mutual friend, 
you and I.” Then he saw her eyes suddenly droop. 


298 


HERB OF GRACE 


“ Forgive me if I am abrupt,” he went on, but the 
matter concerns me intimately. I am informed that you 
are engaged to my friend Cedric Templeton.” 

It was evident that she was prepared for this — the bolt 
out of the blue had not startled her. She stood still and 
looked at him with an air of proud displeasure. 

“ May I ask the name' of your informant, Mr. Her- 
rick ?” she asked coldly ; but he saw that she knew. 

Why should I not have heard it from Cedric himself 
— we are close friends ?” but he watched her narrowly as 
he said this. 

Because he would be the last person to tell you.” 
Then she checked herself, as she saw the snare he had 
laid for her. “ What if I am engaged to him ?” as though 
determined to brave it out ; “ it can surely be no business 
of yours, Mr. Herrick.” There was rising temper in 
Leah’s voice. 

You must forgive me if I say that I differ from 
you there — my friend’s interests are my own. Miss 
Jacobi, how can you reconcile it to your conscience to 
injure that poor boy’s prospects by entering into a clan- 
destine engagement with him?” 

He could see her eyes flash with anger, but she made no 
reply. 

“ You know his position. He is utterly dependent on 
his sisters — his father left him nothing; he has no pro- 
fession ; he has not even finished his university training ; 
he is far too young to think of marrying.” 

She opened her lips to speak, and then closed them 
resolutely again. 

“ Pardon me if I am obliged to speak plainly, but I have 
no option. This engagement cannot go on — you must set 
him free.” 

“ Who says so — you, or Hugh Rossiter ?” stopping and 
regarding him with a frown that made her look for the 
moment like a beautiful Medusa. Then she walked on 


IN KENSINGTON GARDENS 


299 


again. “ Excuse me, Mr. Herrick,'’ very haughtily, “ if 
I say that I regard your interference with my private 
concerns as unjustifiable impertinence. I refuse to dis- 
cuss the matter with you; I am going home. Tartar — 
Tim !” raising her voice. And she turned and walked 
back so swiftly that he had some trouble in overtaking 
her. 

“ Miss Jacobi/’ in an urgent voice, “ I must speak to 
you. I am an accredited ambassador from Miss Tem- 
pleton and her sister — they have asked me to speak to 
you.” 

'' They must choose another ambassador then,” and 
Leah walked on faster. 

Malcolm was at his wits’ end. How could he compel 
this haughty and obstinate young woman to listen to him ? 
Then an idea came to him. 

‘‘If Miss Jacobi is so unapproachable,” he said quietly, 
“ perhaps the Countess Ferrari will not refuse to listen 
to me?” Leah stopped suddenly as though she had been 
shot, and her face grew white. 

“ What do you mean ? How dare you call me that — 
do you want to kill me !” But the expression in her eyes 
was not pleasant to see. For a moment she seemed al- 
most distraught. 

“ Hush — hush !” he said soothingly ; “ I would not 
have called you that if I could have helped it; but you 
would not hear me. Let us go down that little path; 
there is a seat there, and we will talk this out quietly;” 
and taking her arm, he gently guided her to the bench. 
“Sit down and recover yourself,” he continued kindly; 
for she was drawing deep breaths as though she were on 
the verge of an hysterical attack. Malcolm felt secretly 
frightened at the result of his experiment. It was clear 
to him that the mere utterance of her married name al- 
most maddened her — that for some occult reason it was 
not safe to use it. Up to this moment she had played her 


300 


HERB OF GRACE 


cards well: she had guessed his errand and had evaded 
and kept him at bay — first by pretended ignorance, and 
next by refusing to discuss the engagement with him. 
That he was Miss Templeton’s mouthpiece and messen- 
ger mattered little or nothing to her. No wonder Mal- 
colm found himself nonplussed. A moment later he 
heard his name called. Leah’s manner had changed ; she 
was still very pale, but she had regained outward calm- 
ness. “ I will hear you now,” she said in a low voice ; 
“ but you must be more careful — if you mention that 
name again I must leave you. What is the message you 
have for me from Miss Templeton?” 

“ You shall know directly ; but there is one thing I 
must say first. Miss Templeton and her sister are fully 
acquainted with your past life — your parentage, your 
brother’s occupations, and above all, the fact that you 
have only recently become a widow — hardly rnpre than 
six or seven weeks ago.” 

He was standing before her as he spoke, and she tried 
to look at him ; but some sudden sense of womanly shame 
made her cover her face with her hands. 

“ It was not my fault,” she almost whispered; “ I am 
not good, but I am not so bad as that. Saul said it did 
not matter; and after that, when I began to get uncom- 
fortable, he told me a lie.” 

You mean that he told you that your husband was 
dead?” 

Leah shivered, and bowed her head in assent. Then 
as she saw Malcolm’s kind and pitying look, she con- 
tinued in a low, constrained voice, as though something 
compelled her to speak — “ It was not all Saul’s fault. I 
ought not to have believed him, for he does not always 
tell the truth. After a time I found out that it was a 
lie, and then it was too late — Cedric knew I cared for 
him.” 

” You really care for him?” Malcolm was not aware 


IN KENSINGTON GARDENS 


301 


how gently he spoke, but his tone thrilled through Leah ; 
her manner softened still more, and her dark, unfathom- 
able eyes were full of womanly tenderness. 

“ Is that such a strange thing ?” she asked in a dreary 
tone. “ Could not any woman love him ? — so young, so 
fresh, so true — so different from any one I have ever met 
in my unhappy life ! What does it matter that I am older 
— what has age to do with it, when two people care for 
each other !” 

“ Ah, I will grant you that,’' returned Malcolm slowly. 

“ I shall make him a good wife,” she went on, “ and in 
the years to come the old wounds will be healed, and I 
shall forget the terrible past. Oh,” recalling herself with 
difficulty, “ why am I talking to you like this, and I have 
never even heard Miss Templeton’s message.” Then 
Malcolm sat down beside her and gently repeated Dinah’s 
words. 

^ Tell her from me that if she persists in marrying 
my poor boy, she will be marrying a pauper ; that on the 
day the marriage takes place I shall alter my will, and 
that my sister Elizabeth will be my heir. Tell her this, 
and I will write to Cedric.’ ” 

There was no answer to this; but he could feel the 
tremor that passed through her. She has written,” he 
went on, “ and by this time Cedric has her letter. Miss 
Jacobi, if you love this poor lad, how can you have the 
heart to ruin him ? Be generous, be merciful, and set him 
free !” Then she turned upon him almost fiercely. 

“ Generous ! merciful ! — and who has ever shown me 
mercy! When my own flesh and blood have traded on 
my beauty — my hateful beauty — and sold me without pity 
or remorse. And now,” still more passionately, you and 
his people want to come between me and happiness. You 
wish me to give him up, but I cannot — I will not. I am 
not marrying him for Miss Templeton’s money,” she con- 
tinued indignantly, “ but for himself, and because we 


302 


HERB OF GRACE 


love each other. It is Saul who thinks of the money ; but 
he will not believe that message — he knows she will not 
do it. Her sister Elizabeth is rich — rich, and we should 
be so poor.” 

You are wrong, Miss Jacobi, she will do it. Miss 
Templeton is gentle and loving, but she is very firm. It 
is possible — nay, probable — that she would continue Ced- 
ric’s allowance, but in the event of this marriage he will 
have nothing more from her.” 

“ Do you mean that she would let him starve ?” 

“ I mean that he would have to work for his bread as 
other men have to work, and that his whole life, and 
yours too, will probably be a failure. Miss Jacobi, I 
entreat you to listen to me for a few moments — I am 
speaking for your good as well as his. May I tell you 
what I think?” She made a movement of assent. Mal- 
colm never could recollect afterwards what he said to her ; 
but his words, strong, eloquent, convincing, seemed to 
overwhelm her like a torrent, and yet his manner was 
perfectly quiet and calm. 

He told her, without attempting to soften or palliate 
the fact, that nothing would reconcile Miss Templeton 
and her sister to such a marriage ; that her brother’s 
character was regarded by them with abhorrence; that 
their cherished brother should marry the sister of a 
billiard-marker — a mere adventurer and gambler — was 
utterly impossible; and Leah’s head was bowed low as 
she listened. He touched delicately on her own past; 
but his few words were terribly convincing. ‘‘ You have 
spoken to me of Cedric’s youth and freshness,” he ob- 
served — “ do you think that your past life with its sad 
experiences make you a fit mate for him? You may tell 
me you are only a few years older ; but in knowledge of 
life he is a mere child compared to you. It is in the name 
of his youth — his fresh, unsullied youth — that I implore 
you to be generous and set him free.” 


IN KENSINGTON GARDENS 


303 


Malcolm said more than this — for his own love for 
Elizabeth made him eloquent. He must do her this one 
service: he must deliver her young brother out of the 
contaminating hands of these Philistines ; and so he 
reasoned and pleaded with Leah as he had never pleaded 
in his life before. 

Soon she was weeping ; he could see the tears dropping 
into her lap. Then suddenly, as a clock struck, she 
started up. It is late — I must go now or Saul will ques- 
tion me. Indeed — indeed I must go.” 

But you will think over all I have said, and let me 
see you again ?” asked Malcolm anxiously. 

“ Yes, I will think over it ; and if possible I will be here 
to-morrow. But I cannot answer you now. You have 
made me very unhappy, Mr. Herrick. What is it that the 
Bible says ? — ^ There is no peace for the wicked.’ I must 
be wicked, for there is no peace for me.” 

“ No — no, you must not say that,” he returned kindly; 

let me give you my card, that you may know where to 
find me. Miss Jacobi, if you will only bring yourself to 
do this thing, you will be a brave woman, and I shall be 
your friend for life.” But she only smiled faintly as she 
took the card and asked him as a special favour not to 
come any farther with her. 

Have I done any good ?” thought Malcolm sorrow- 
fully, as he walked away. “ Poor soul, how she loves 
him ! Cedric was right, as I told Miss Templeton : Leah 
Jacobi is more sinned against than sinning. Nature in- 
tended her for a noble woman, but Saul Jacobi and Count 
Antonio Ferrari have marred her handiwork.” And all 
the rest of the day Malcolm thought of Leah with strange 
kindness and pity. 


CHAPTER XXXI 


PLOT AND COUNTERPLOT- 

Many a one, by being thought better than he was, has become 
better. — ^Jowett. 

Not as little as we dare, but as much as we can. — Bishop of 
Westcott. 

Malcolm wrote to Dinah that afternoon, giving her a 
full account of his interview with Leah Jacobi ; then he 
spent the rest of the day making up arrears of work. 
The last post brought him a reproachful little note from 
Anna. 

Mother thinks you have forgotten us. Why are you 
staying away in this unmannerly fashion, you naughty 
boy ?” she wrote. It is ten whole days since you were 
here, and we both feel lone and lorn without you” — and 
so on. But under the playful words he could detect a 
shade of earnestness. 

Tired as he was, and needing rest sorely, he answered 
the letter and posted it before he slept. 

Anna read it aloud to Mrs. Herrick the next morning, 
and they both agreed that it was a charming letter. The 
dear home people must forgive his seeming neglect, it 
said, for it was not possible for him to put in an appear- 
ance just yet. He was arranging a troublesome affair 
for a friend that gave him a great deal of anxiety and 
worry. He had been to Oxford, and might have to go 
down again, and he could not spare an hour for social 
duties. 

Oxford — I wonder if the business concerns his friend 
Cedric Templeton,” observed Anna thoughtfully. But 
Mrs. Herrick only looked grave and said she did not 
304 


PLOT AND COUNTERPLOT 


305 


know, and that evidently Malcolm did not wish to en- 
lighten them. She spoke dispassionately and not in the 
least as though his reserve troubled her; but Anna was 
rather absent and distrait the rest of the day. She had 
watched Malcolm narrowly and had come to the conclu- 
sion that he had something on his mind. All his attempts 
at gaiety, his little jokes, his badinage, did not deceive 
her for a moment. Trouble had come to him. In some 
ways he was a changed man : he looked older, graver, 
and in repose his features had a care-worn expression, as 
of one who has worked hard in turmoil of soul. And this 
trouble — could it be connected in any way with this mys- 
terious Elizabeth, of whom he never spoke ? Ah, that was 
the question over which Anna pondered so heavily as 
her fair head bent over her typewriter. 

Malcolm had ordered an early breakfast again in his 
own room, but as he sat down to it Hepsy brought him 
a note. A slip of a lad had delivered it, she said, and was 
waiting for an answer. 

Malcolm had never seen the handwriting before, but 
he at once guessed it was from Leah — and he was right. 
It was written in pencil, and was without any conven- 
tional beginning or end. 

“ I am not going out this morning — will you come 
straight to 12 Gresham Gardens? If you come early you 
will find me alone. Saul went to Oxford last night, and 
will be back by mid-day. Send answer by bearer.” 

Malcolm wrote a few words — “ Many thanks. Will be 
with you as early as possible;” then he made a hasty 
meal, for he felt there was no time to be lost ; and as he 
walked to Sloane Square station his thoughts were full 
of perplexity. Why had Saul Jacobi gone down to Ox- 
ford — on what new mischief was he bent? Malcolm felt 
he had good reason for his fears. Cedric’s weak, im- 
pressionable nature would be like wax in the hands of this 
unscrupulous adventurer; he would simply mould him 

20 


3o6 


HERB OF GRACE 


to his will; the poor lad’s passionate love for his sister 
would be turned to account and made to further his own 
wily purposes. Malcolm groaned inwardly, as he realised 
that their sole chance lay with Leah herself. Her mes- 
sage had given him a shade of hope, but he would not 
allow himself to be sanguine; he knew too well that 
women of Leah’s calibre were not always to be depended 
on; in such cases one must reckon with moods and im- 
pulses. Her brother dominated her; he was the evil 
genius of her life. How could any one hope to influence 
her, when she, poor soul, lived under a reign of terror? 
One might as well ask some wretched prisoner to break 
off the fetters that bound him, as to expect Leah Jacobi to 
walk out of that house of bondage a free woman. 

Malcolm found it impossible to rid himself of these 
gloomy forebodings; nevertheless he made such good 
speed that it was barely half-past nine when he stood in 
the stone porch of 12 Gresham Gardens. It was evident 
that he was expected, for though the maid who admitted 
him regarded him somewhat curiously, she did not ask 
his name, but conducted him at once upstairs to a hand- 
some drawing-room where a fire was burning. 

The little fox-terriers, Tim and Tartar, began barking 
furiously at the sight of a stranger ; but before Malcolm 
could quiet them the plush curtains that veiled the arch- 
way were thrown back and Leah entered from an inner 
room. 

Malcolm was quite shocked when he saw her face. She 
looked as though she had spent a night of weeping, that 
had dimmed her beauty ; the hand she gave him was icy 
cold. Perhaps she read the silent pity in Malcolm’s eyes, 
for her lips quivered. 

“ I am not ill — not really ill,” she said quickly ; only 
I have not slept, and the night was so terrible. You were 
right to come early, Mr. Herrick ; sometimes Saul takes 
an earlier train than he says. He has done that two or 


PLOT AND COUNTERPLOT 


307 


three times; he declares he never really trusts me. He 
made me promise not to go in the Gardens this morning, 
so I was obliged to stay at home.’^ 

“ Will you tell me why your brother has gone to Ox- 
ford?’’ asked Malcolm, with a keen, steady glance, under 
which she grew still paler. 

Yes, I will tell you : he has gone to see Cedric. He 
was waiting for me when I got back yesterday, and he 
saw at once by my face that something had happened. 
Oh, you don’t know Saul — when he means to find a thing 
out he is like a gimlet, one has no chance at all. He 
held my wrists until I told him everything — you can see 
how bruised they are,” and she showed him the purple 
marks. “ Oh, how angry he was ! I never saw him in 
such a rage before, but it only made him more determined 
to hurry on the marriage.” 

“ He has no objection then to your marrying a pauper ?” 
asked Malcolm coolly, but inwardly he was boiling with 
impotent wrath. 

“ Oh, he will not believe that Cedric is poor,” she re- 
turned sadly ; “ he only laughs at the idea of Miss Tem- 
pleton disinheriting him. ‘ She wants to frighten him, 
and to choke us off, but I know a trick worth two of that,’ 
was all he said ; and then he cooled down, and called me 
a little fool, and bade me bring him the time-table, and 
ten minutes later he told me he was going to Oxford to 
arrange things with Cedric.” 

You mean about your marriage?” 

Yes ; it was fixed for next week, but last evening I 
received this telegram,” and Leah put it in his hand. She 
had said all this in a weary, mechanical voice, as though 
she were reciting a lesson she had learnt by heart. 

Make preparations at once — Cedric returns with me 
— function day after to-morrow, nine sharp — all arranged 
— hang results.” Malcolm’s lip curled with disgust as he 
gave it back to her. 


3o8 


HERB OF GRACE 


“Do you understand it?” she asked, as though dis- 
trustful of his quiet bearing. “ Saul has hurried things 
on because he is afraid. He does not trust Cedric: he 
thinks he is weak and easily influenced, and fears that you 
may get hold of him again; his one idea is to have the 
marriage ceremony performed before Miss Templeton 
knows of it.” 

“Ah, just so;” but Malcolm muttered “the villain!” 
between his teeth. 

“ That is why I sent for you,” continued Leah in the 
same dull, inward voice ; “ because he and Cedric have 
fixed it for to-morrow, and there is no time to lose. If 
he comes, and I were to see him again,” and here her 
voice broke and her eyes grew piteous, “ I should not have 
the strength to do it — to do what you want.” 

“What I want?” And then he added breathlessly, 
“ Do you mean that you will give him up ?” 

“ Yes, I mean that,” in a choked voice. “ I must give 
him up — the only creature I ever loved, and who was 
good to me. All night long I was thinking of it, fighting 
and struggling for my poor little bit of happiness; but 
you were right, Mr. Herrick, I love him too well to drag 
him down to poverty and ruin, for Saul would ruin him, 
I know that too well.” 

“ I know it too. God bless you for this noble resolve,” 
returned Malcolm quickly; but she stopped him. 

“ Hush ! not a word of praise ; you do not know — I 
have been to blame as well as Saul. But now what am 
I to do ? they must not find me here.” 

“ No, of course not. Is there any friend to whom I 
could take you?” But Leah shook her head. 

“We have no friends, only a few acquaintances at 
Henley; but I could not go to them. I might take a 
lodging somewhere, only” — here her poor face grew crim- 
son — “ Saul never gives me any money, except a few 
shillings at a time; he pays my bills or leaves them un- 


PLOT AND COUNTERPLOT 


309 

paid, but it always makes him angry when I ask him for 
money.” 

“ That need be no difficulty,” returned Malcolm kindly. 

‘‘ Will you allow me to settle things for you?” Then she 
looked at him inquiringly, yet with an air of trust that 
moved him profoundly. 

“ Will you put on your walking things at once, while 
I make my plans ?” he went on. “ Be as quick as pos- 
sible; we must not lose time.” And she went off with 
the ready obedience of a child. 

Malcolm hastily reviewed the situation. It was full 
of difficulties. Where could he take her ? He thought of 
his mother; then he remembered that she was a woman 
of strong prejudices — she had her own opinions and 
would decline to see with other people’s eyes. Leah 
would be to her merely an extremely dangerous and 
objectionable young woman, and she would dislike the 
idea of Anna being brought into contact with her. 

The Kestons would help him, he knew that, and Verity 
would be a trusty and faithful little counsellor; but 
Cheyne Walk was hardly the place for her, and he would 
not be safe from Cedric. 

For a moment he thought of the Wood House — they 
would never look for her there; but he dismissed this 
idea the ;jext moment. No ; the Manor House was their 
only resource. He would put her in Mrs. Godfrey’s care, 
and ask her to keep her safe until they had made their 
plans. Mrs. Godfrey was a woman of the world; she 
would make allowances for any human creature so broken 
and buffeted in the battle of life, whose womanhood had 
been so tempted and crushed. His mother was kind- 
hearted, but her sympathies were less broad, and she often 
failed in tact. Leah would be to her a puzzling enigma. 
He felt with shrewd intuition that it would be impossible 
for them to understand each other. 

No, it must be my dear Mrs. Godfrey,” he said to 


310 


HERB OF GRACE 


himself. She is more human ; it is not her way to use 
a sledge-hammer when a lighter weapon will serve her 
purpose ; and then she never forces confidence, she is the 
most tactful woman I know.” Malcolm broke off ab- 
ruptly here as Leah entered the room. She wore the 
same dark red dress she had worn the previous day, and 
had a travelling wrap over her arm. She carried a small 
Gladstone bag, of which Malcolm at once relieved her. 

“ I packed this last night,” she said in a low voice, “ and 
I wrote this letter. Will you give it to him ?” Then Mal- 
colm glanced at the address ; it was to Cedric, and he put 
it carefully in his breast-pocket. 

“ He shall have it,” was his answer. “ Now, if you are 
ready, we may as well go.” 

“ If we are quiet no one will hear us,” she observed 
in the same subdued voice. “ The servants are in the 
back kitchen ; I heard them laughing and talking as I 
came downstairs.” 

Then she led the way, and Malcolm followed her 
closely. Leah’s remark about an earlier train had made 
him supremely uncomfortable. What if they should come 
face to face with Saul Jacobi and Cedric as they turned 
out of Gresham Gardens ! The idea was unpleasant. 
Fortunately, at that moment he saw an empty cab crawl- 
ing towards them, after the manner of growlers, when a 
fare is wanted, and he at once hailed it. Leah looked 
somewhat surprised when she heard him direct the man 
to a pastry-cook’s shop in the near vicinity of Paddington 
station. She gave him a questioning glance. 

“ We cannot go straight to our destination until I 
am sure the coast is clear,” he explained. “ There is an 
upstairs room at Falconer’s, and I am going to order you 
some luncheon, and you must do your best to eat it. I 
shall have to leave you for a quarter of an hour or so, 
until the Oxford train is in.” 

“ You mean to go to the station?” she asked nervously. 


PLOT AND COUNTERPLOT 


311 

“ Oh, Mr. Herrick, is that wise ? Saul is so sharp-sighted, 
if he sees you he will guess that you have been to Gres- 
ham Gardens.” 

“ He will not see me,” returned Malcolm confidently ; 
“ there is a corner where I can secrete myself and watch 
the passengers go by. When we are really off I will tell 
you our destination, but at present I must ask you to have 
faith that I am doing my best for you.” 

She smiled faintly and said no more. Five minutes 
later the cab stopped, and Malcolm took her upstairs and 
found a quiet corner for her. “ You must take a few 
spoonfuls of soup,” he pleaded, “ for the sake of ap- 
pearances. Falconer is rather famed for mock-turtle.” 
Then he put down the bag beside her and went on his 
quest. It was more than twenty minutes before he re- 
turned. 

“ It is all right,” he observed. “ They passed me quite 
close. We shall be in the train before they reach Gresham 
Gardens. I think I heard your brother say that they had 
better do their business first.” Leah shivered ; she knew 
too well what that business was. A quarter of an hour 
later they were on their way to Cookham. 

Leah seemed very much startled and even alarmed 
when she learnt their destination, and at first Malcolm 
found it difficult to reassure her. “ Mrs. Godfrey !” she 
exclaimed. ‘‘ Oh, I scarcely know her. Somehow she 
frightens me; her eyes seem to read one through and 
through. And then the Etheridges will be so near.” 

'' I believe they are abroad,” replied Malcolm, and 
not expected home until the middle of December, so you 
need not trouble your head about them. But indeed you 
are wrong about Mrs. Godfrey; she is a dear woman, 
and the greatest friend I have. She is so warm-hearted 
and true that she would go through fire and water for 
any one she loved.” 

“ Oh yes, no doubt.” 


312 


HERB OF GRACE 


And not only for her friends,” he went on, “ for her 
sympathies are world-wide. Trust her, my dear Miss 
Jacobi, and you will see how good she is to you. She 
is not hard and censorious in her judgments, she is far 
too well-balanced for that; if you can only secure Mrs. 
Godfrey for a friend, you will need no other.” But it 
was plain to him that Leah was only half convinced; 
under her veil he could see she was vainly trying to 
repress her tears, and his heart ached for her. 

During their short walk to the Manor House he kept 
silence; he was wondering what he should say to Mrs. 
Godfrey, and how he could best explain matters. But just 
as they turned into the drive he saw her coming round 
from the garden with a basket of late blowing flowers in 
her hand; she stood still as though petrified with as- 
tonishment when she saw Malcolm’s companion. 

‘‘ What is it — what does it mean ?” she asked in her 
clear voice. '' Has anything happened ?” 

“ Much has happened, my dear lady,” he returned 
quietly. I am going to confide Miss Jacobi to your care 
for a few days;” and then very briefly but distinctly he 
gave her an account of Saul Jacobi’s scheme — the in- 
tended marriage and Cedric’s arrival at Gresham Gar- 
dens. But for Miss Jacobi’s noble behaviour,” he con- 
tinued, “ this disgraceful plot would have been carried 
out. She has generously given him up, and I for one am 
deeply indebted to her.” 

Will you hide me for a few days, until I know what 
to do ?” asked Leah, fixing her great troubled eyes on the 
other woman’s face. Mrs. Godfrey’s manner changed. 

“ Hide you from your brother do you mean, or Cedric, 
or both? My dear, you will be perfectly safe with us. 
No one will molest you at the Manor House, and we will 
both do all we can for you.” She took the girl’s hand 
kindly and kissed her cheek. “ We will have such a talk 
presently — you and I; but just now you are worn out. 


PLOT AND COUNTERPLOT 


313 


and must lie down. Your head aches, does it not?” Then 
Leah owned that she was right. 

Alick is about the grounds somewhere,” Mrs. God- 
frey continued ; “ when I have made Miss Jaeobi com- 
fortable I will join you both.” But when she rejoined 
them half an hour later, Malcolm was quite sure she had 
been shedding tears. “ Poor thing,” she said to him in 
an undertone, “ how she must have suffered ; she is ter- 
ribly exhausted, she has had no sleep, and has eaten 
nothing for four-and-twenty hours. I made her swallow 
some warm brandy and milk, and have covered her up 
snugly. Now I mean to send the servant away at 
luncheon, and we will wait on ourselves, and then you can 
tell us everything.” 

“ You must promise not to interrupt me then,” was 
Malcolm’s answer, “ for I shall have to be off in an hour 
or so. I mean to go down to Staplegrove by a late after- 
noon train, and tell Miss Templeton all we have done.” 

Malcolm certainly had the art of narration. Not only 
Mrs. Godfrey but the Colonel hung on his words with 
the deepest attention. Neither did they interrupt him by 
comment or question until he had finished. Then Mrs. 
Godfrey said softly — “ You have done a good work there, 
Mr. Herrick.” 

” Who, I ? — pooh — nonsense,” but Malcolm flushed a 
little at her appreciative look. ‘‘ I have done nothing — 
it is all Miss Jacobi’s generosity.” 

I think we should hear a different version from her,” 
returned Mrs. Godfrey with a smile, “ and I can see Alick 
agrees with me,” nodding to her husband. “ Must you 
reallv go to Staplegrove to-night? Suppose Cedric goes 
to Cheyne Walk?” 

“That is quite possible,” returned Malcolm; “nay, 
more, it is extremely probable ; and I pencilled a line to 
Verity in the train. She is to tell him where I have gone ; 
but my only fear is that he will not follow me — Saul 


314 


HERB OF GRACE 


Jacobi will keep too tight a hold of him. By the bye, 
Colonel, I wonder what infernal lies that fellow has in- 
duced him to tell the authorities. If he has taken French 
leave of absence, they will rusticate him.” 

“ I think he had better leave the university,” returned 
Colonel Godfrey grimly, “ for he is only bent on mischief, 
and will never pass his examination. Let him go abroad 
a bit with some reliable person and get over his folly, and 
then see if he will not settle down better. Dinah could 
afford to give him a year’s travelling, and I know she 
would never begrudge the money.” 

“ No, indeed, she is only too generous by nature,” re- 
turned his wife ; and then after a little more conversation 
Malcolm took leave of Mrs. Godfrey, and he and the 
Colonel walked down to the station. 


CHAPTER XXXII 


STORM AND STRESS 

And yet, because I love thee, I obtain 
From that same love this vindicating grace — 

To live on still in love, and yet in vain ; 

To bless thee, yet renounce thee to thy face. 

Elizabeth Barrett Browning. 

“ C^EST le premier pas qui coute,” and Malcolm proved 
the truth of the old French proverb, as he dismissed his 
fly and walked up the dark drive towards the Wood 
House. 

He no longer felt the hot and cold fits that had shaken 
him as though with inward ague on his previous visit. 
He had seen Elizabeth again, had at least retained his 
outward calmness, and now he felt more sure of himself. 

The pains and penalties of life,” Leah had said to 
him once, and he had thought the expression a strange 
one on the lips of so beautiful a woman; but he knew 
better now, and how such pains and penalties fall to the 
share of many men. “ It is all in the day’s work,” he 
muttered as he rang the bell, for it was Malcolm’s nature 
to philosophise even in trouble. 

It was only six o’clock, and the two sisters were sitting 
together in the fire-lit twilight. Dinah was lying back in 
her easy-chair with her eyes closed, but Elizabeth had 
drawn her chair opposite the fire, and sat with her chin 
supported by her hands, gazing fixedly at the blazing logs 
with an absorbed gravity that again surprised Malcolm. 

When they heard the visitor announced they both 
started to their feet and came towards him, but it was 
Elizabeth who spoke first. Mr. Herrick, this is too good 

' 315 


3i6 


HERB OF GRACE 


of you. I hope — I trust/' in an anxious tone, that your 
news is also good." 

“ You may rest assured of that," he returned, with an 
unconscious pressure of her hand. Dinah heaved a deep 
sigh of relief, and pointed silently to the chair that stood 
between them. She did not speak, perhaps because she 
could not: her face looked as though she had passed 
through an illness. Elizabeth, with her wonted quickness, 
answered Malcolm’s unspoken question. 

“ Dinah has had one of her bad sick headaches, and 
has only just come downstairs. All this sad business has 
upset her greatly, but you will be her best physician," 
with the old beaming smile which Malcolm dared not 
meet. “ Now," with a housewifely air, “ shall I give you 
some tea? You will dine with us, of course?" But Mal- 
colm declined the offered refreshment. 

I will dine with you if you wish it," he said rather 
formally, “ and if you and Miss Templeton will excuse 
the absence of war-paint; but I am going back to town 
to-night." 

“ Oh no, not to-night !" she exclaimed in quite a shocked 
voice ; “ you will be so tired." But Malcolm assured her 
with absolute truth that he had never been less tired in his 
life. The storm and stress and excitement of the day had 
acted on him like a tonic as well as an anodyne ; in think- 
ing and planning for others he had found relief from the 
intolerable ache of ever-present pain that had made his 
life so purgatorial of late, and the unhealed wound 
throbbed less cruelly. 

“ I have so much to tell you that I think I had better 
begin at once," he observed in a business-like tone, and 
then both the sisters composed themselves to listen. But 
this time they heard him less calmly. The shock of learn- 
ing Saul Jacobi’s disgraceful plot, and Cedric’s infatua- 
tion and weakness, was too much for Dinah, and she 
sobbed audibly. 


STORM AND STRESS 


317 


Oh, Betty !” she exclaimed piteously, to think that 
our dear boy should be deceiving us like this ! But that 
woman has deluded him.” 

“ The woman beguiled me and I did eat,” murmured 
Malcolm. Then Elizabeth looked at him rather sharply, 
as though she suspected a double meaning. But as he 
proceeded with his story, and she heard of Leah’s noble 
act of self-sacrifice, her mood changed and her eyes filled 
with tears. Malcolm fancied that he heard her say softly 
under her breath, ‘‘ She loved much, because much has 
been forgiven her.” 

But the climax of their wonder seemed reached when 
Malcolm told tlierh that Leah was at the Manor House. 
Dinah seemed as though she could not believe her ears, 
and again Elizabeth looked at him curiously. 

“Our dear Mrs. Godfrey!” she ejaculated. “I won- 
der what made you go to her. I thought,” with a little 
laugh, “ only a woman would have done that.” 

“ Do you consider men so dense ?” was his answer. 
“ Mrs. Godfrey is the best friend I have in the world, 
and she has never disappointed me once. She is not only 
wise and almost masculine in her breadth of view, but 
she is also the most womanly of women.” 

“ How well you have grasped her 1” returned Elizabeth 
in an approving voice. “ Yes, you are right, she will be 
a true friend to that poor Miss Jacobi. It was magnificent 
strategy. I do not believe any one else would have 
thought of it.” But Malcolm only flushed at this eulo- 
gium. 

“ I promised you that I would do my best,” he said 
in a constrained voice ; but Elizabeth was too elated and 
excited by the good news to measure her words. 

“ Oh, but your best is so much better than other people’s 
best,” she said gaily. “ Die, dear, why do you not make 
some pretty speeches to Mr. Herrick when he has 


3i8 


HERB OF GRACE 


achieved all this?’’ Then Dinah smiled and held out her 
hand. 

‘‘ What should we have done without you was all 
she said, but Malcolm felt amply rewarded for his trouble. 

They talked a little more about Leah Jacobi, and then 
Elizabeth said suddenly — 

“ I have an idea. I will go to the Manor House and 
talk to Mrs. Godfrey — it is our affair, and we must not 
shunt our responsibilities on other people’s shoulders — 
and then I can judge of this poor Leah.” And though 
Dianh was evidently startled by this bold suggestion, she 
did not attempt to gainsay it. 

“ Shall you go to-morrow ?” she asked. Perhaps I 
could go too.” But Elizabeth promptly negatived this. 

You will do nothing of the kind,” she returned de- 
cidedly ; “ I shall have you falling ill on my hands. Be- 
sides, you must be at the Wood House, in case Cedric 
comes;” and as Dinah perceived the force of this argu- 
ment, she said no more about accompanying her sister. 

Malcolm, however, was not so easily satisfied. “ Are 
you sure that you had better do this?” he said rather 
gravely. Would it not be wiser to leave Mrs. Godfrey 
to deal with Miss Jacobi?” But Elizabeth seemed quite 
indignant. 

Mr. Herrick, I did not expect this from you,” she said 
severely. ‘‘ I thought we were to do good to our enemies 
— and this poor soul is not our enemy after all. We have 
a debt to pay to her, have we not. Die? for she has set 
our boy free. We must do all we can to help her, and to 
free her from her terrible brother; for as long as she is 
with him there can be no peace for her.” 

“ No, you are right,” replied Malcolm slowly ; Saul 
Jacobi is her curse. He is a cold-hearted, selfish schemer. 
Well, I will not try to hinder your good work, for I see 
you are bent on doing it. You will go to-morrow, then?” 

Yes, I think so,” but Elizabeth hesitated and looked 


STORM AND STRESS 


319 


at her sister. David is expecting his father to-morrow, 

and he will not want me until the next day ” but she 

broke off here as dinner was announced. 

It could not be said that Malcolm enjoyed his meal. 
The presence of the servants prevented any freedom in 
the conversation, and as Dinah was still oppressed and 
weak from the effects of her headache, the brunt of the 
talk fell on Malcolm and Elizabeth, and neither of them 
seemed quite at their ease. The mention of his rival had 
affected Malcolm painfully, and Elizabeth was aware of 
this and was at once on her guard. She avoided all local 
subjects and plied him with questions about his mother 
and Anna and the Kestons ; all of which Malcolm an- 
swered punctiliously. When a pause in the conversation 
seemed inevitable, he plunged into the breach with a de- 
scription of Amias Keston’s latest picture, and an anec- 
dote or two about that infant prodigy Babs ; he spoke of 
a book he had been reading, from which he gave them 
copious extracts ; and then, dessert being placed on the 
table, he drew a sigh of relief. By that time he was sen- 
sible of fatigue. 

He left them soon after this. When he bade Dinah 
good-bye, she took both his hands and looked wistfully 
in his face. “ I cannot say anything to-night,” she whis- 
pered — I am too giddy and confused ; but I will write, 
and — and God bless you !” 

To his surprise Elizabeth followed him into the hall. 
As she opened the door for him, the rush of raw, damp 
air came full in their faces. 

It is a regular November evening,” she observed, 
with a little shiver. “ It is the month I like least — the 
month of decay and ” then she checked herself ab- 

ruptly. “ Mr. Herrick, there is a question I wanted to 
ask, and that I did not wish Dinah to hear. You are 
going back to town this evening, are you not, because 
you expect that Cedric will come to Cheyne Walk?” 


320 


HERB OF GRACE 


'' I think he will be here,” he returned reluctantly, for 
he had not wished to hint at this ; in his own mind he was 
prepared for a stormy interview. 

“ I feel sure of it,” she continued. “ He is very un- 
balanced and passionate — he will say things that he does 
not mean, and that he will repent afterwards. You will 
bear with him — you will be patient, will you not?” 

“ Do you think you need ask me that ?” Malcolm’s 
voice was so full of reproach and meaning that a sudden 
flush crossed Elizabeth’s face. “ Have you forgotten al- 
ready ?” his expression seemed to say — “ is he not your 
brother, and am I not your devoted and humble servant ?” 
Then his manner changed. 

I will deal with him as gently as possible, you may 
be sure of that,” he said kindly. But Elizabeth gave him 
her hand rather timidly and without looking at him. 

This time there was no backward glance as Malcolm 
and his lantern disappeared into the dark woodlands ; but 
Elizabeth stood so long in the porch that the dead leaves 
swirled round her feet and even blew across the hall. 

“ I wish I had not said that,” she thought ; “ I might 
have trusted him. He will be firm, but he will be gentle 
too.” And then she went back to Dinah, and they talked 
together of all that should be done on the morrow. 

It was not long past eleven when Malcolm let himself 
into the house in Cheyne Walk with his latch-key, but 
Verity was evidently on the watch for him. 

“ Mr. Templeton is here,” she said, and he detected a 
trace of anxiety in her manner. He has been here quite 
two hours. Amias wanted him to come into the studio, 
but he preferred going to your room. I am afraid he is 
not well, or something is troubling him ; he does nothing 
but walk about.” 

“ I will go up to him,” rejoined Malcolm. “ I suppose 
there is a fire?” Verity nodded, and wished him good- 
night. 


STORM AND STRESS 


321 


The fire was burning cheerily; nevertheless, as Mal- 
colm opened the door, the room felt as cold as a vault. 
The window opening on to the balcony had been flung up, 
and the damp air from the river pervaded the whole place. 
The sudden draught made the lamp smoke, and he moved 
it hastily. As he did so a dark figure came between him 
and the light, and seized him almost roughly by the arm. 

‘‘ So it is you, Herrick, at last !” in a hoarse voice that 
was scarcely recognisable. “ Now tell me, please, what 
have you done with Leah ?” 

The grip on Malcolm’s arm was so painful that he 
winced. “ Let me shut that window first, there’s a good 
fellow,” he returned coolly, ‘‘ or we shall be blown into 
the street and as Cedric sullenly let him go, he fastened 
it and drew down the blind and turned up the lamp. 

Cedric watched him savagely. 

Verity might well have suspected that something was 
seriously amiss. Cedric’s face was pale and his whole 
aspect disordered, and the strained, fierce look in his blue 
eyes almost dismayed Malcolm. There was something 
aggressive too in his manner that affected him unpleas- 
antly. 

“ Well, are you going to speak?” in a defiant voice, “ or 
do you wish to drive me crazy? What have you done 
with the girl who is to be my wife to-morrow ?” 

“ Why do you imagine that I have done anything with 
her?” returned Malcolm steadily, for he wanted to find 
out what Cedric really knew. “ I have just come from 
the Wood House. Your sisters are in great trouble about 
this.” 

“ You have not taken her there,” retorted Cedric, with 
a sneer, “ and I am not in a mood to discuss my sisters. 
Herrick, I call this an infernal shame ! What right have 
you to come between a man and his affianced wife? I will 
not bear it — you shall make me amends!” — stammering 
with passion. “ Saul says you are at the bottom of this.” 

21 


322 


HERB OF GRACE 


“ Mr. Jacobi will have to prove it then,” returned Mal- 
colm quietly. 

“ Prove it ! Do you think we have not sufficient 
proof?” exclaimed Cedric angrily. “I suppose you do 
not deny that you were at Gresham Gardens this morn- 
ing.” 

“ I was there certainly ; Miss Jacobi sent for me. I had 
seen her in Kensington Gardens the previous day.” 

“ I know all about that,” interrupted Cedric rudely. 

Saul told me you were bent on making mischief be- 
tween me and Leah. You left the house with her this 
morning. One of the servants saw you go. You were 
carrying a Gladstone bag and a travelling wrap, evidently 
a lady’s.” 

Malcolm bit his lip. They had been seen then. 

“ Before we go on with this cross-examination, will you 
allow me to explain matters,” he observed. “ It is no 
use your taking this tone with me, Cedric; I have done, 
nothing of which I am ashamed. As far as I can, and up 
to a certain point, I will tell you the exact truth, and it 
may be well for you to hear me.” 

Malcolm’s quiet tone was not without influence, and 
Cedric flung himself on a chair ; but his attitude was still 
defiant. 

“ I own that I have done all in my power to induce 
Leah Jacobi to break oflf this disastrous engagement,” 
continued Malcolm. “ I did this not only for your sake, 
and because you were the tool of a designing and un- 
scrupulous man, but also for your sisters’ sake. When I 
left her yesterday it was impossible to know how far I 
had succeeded in my purpose.” Cedric looked up when 
Malcolm said this. 

“ This morning Miss Jacobi sent me a note, and I went 
to her at once. She was in deep distress, and showed me 
her brother’s telegram. To my astonishment, she told 
me that she fully intended to break off her engagement, 


STORM AND STRESS 


323 


and entrusted this letter to my care;” and here he stopped 
and handed it to Cedric, and withdrew to another part of 
the room while he read it. 

A long time afterwards Malcolm read that letter. 

“ My darling, I cannot marry you,” Leah wrote. “ I 
am going to set you free. I pray God that I may never 
see your dear face again, for this is the hardest piece of 
work I have ever done in my life. Mr. Herrick has been 
talking to me ; he has made me see things in a different 
light. I know now that I am no fit wife for you, my life 
has been too soiled and degraded. In experience I am 
twenty or thirty years older than you, and though I am 
only nine-and-twenty, my heart is gray. Dear — dearest, 
you are so young — perhaps that is why I love you — your 
youth is so gracious and lovely in my eyes. But Mr. 
Herrick is right. You must not be angry with him, Ced- 
ric. He has been so kind and gentle, and he is so true a 
friend to you. I have sent for him — when he comes I 
shall ask him to hide me in some safe place where you 
and Saul cannot find me. I am so afraid of Saul — he is so 
strong, he makes me do things against my conscience. 

Darling, let me say just this one thing more. It is 
because of Saul that I am so determined not to marry 
you. If you became my husband, he would be a drag 
on you all your life. He has absolutely no conscience; 
he would ruin you. No — no, you shall be free. I will 
not hurt a hair of your head. Farewell. — Your loving 
and unhappy Leah.” 

Malcolm had turned his back, and stood looking down 
into the fire, until a choked sob reached his ears. Cedric’s 
head was sunk on his arms, and his whole frame was con- 
vulsed with suppressed emotion; but when Malcolm put 
his hand on his shoulder, he started up as though beside 
himself. 

This is your doing,” he said furiously. “ I will never 


324 


HERB OF GRACE 


forgive you, Herrick — never ! Oh I” — as midnight 
chimed from a church near — '' this is our wedding-day — : 
Leah’s and mine, and you have hidden my bride away! 
But you shall give her up,” with an oath, and for the 
moment Malcolm thought the lad would have struck him 
in his insane passion. Cedric was no mean athlete, and 
Malcolm was hardly a match for him, but he caught his 
uplifted hand and held it firmly. 

Don’t be a fool, Cedric,” he said quietly. Do you 
suppose this violence will serve your purpose? Miss 
Jacobi has placed herself under my protection, and I shall 
certainly not betray her. Sit down and behave like a 
gentleman, and let us talk this out. Good heavens 1” with 
a sudden change of voice, “ do you suppose you are the 
only man in the world who cannot marry the woman he 
loves,” and Malcolm’s tone and manner seemed to check 
Cedric’s passion. '' Let us talk it out like men,” he re- 
peated, and Cedric sank back on his chair, still sullen but 
half subdued. 


CHAPTER XXXIII 


'' HE WILL COME RIGHT’' 

If your eyes look for nothing but evil, you will always see evil 
triumphant; but if you have learned to let your glance rest on 
sincerity, simpleness, truth, you will ever discover deep down in 
all things the silent overpowering victory of that you love. — 
Maeterlinck. 

Long afterwards Malcolm compared that ni.s^ht’s work 
to a severe wrestling-match, and owned that it had taxed 
his mental and bodily strength to the utmost. The illus- 
tration was singularly apt. The whole force of his man- 
hood and will were set to rescue this poor lad from the 
effects of his own infatuation and folly, but at first he 
made little progress. 

Saul Jacobi’s pernicious influence had done its work, 
and Malcolm, to his dismay and disgust, was forced to 
realise that his baleful and hated arguments had already 
poisoned Cedric’s mind. More than once he was revolted 
by ideas which he knew had been inculcated by Saul 
Jacobi. He has poisoned the wells,” Malcolm said to 
himself indignantly — “ Cedric’s fresh young mind has 
been contaminated by his odious philosophy,” and his 
heart grew sad as he remembered Dinah’s faith in her 
boy. 

More than once he was so sickened by Cedric’s want of 
restraint and childish abandon of grief that he was 
tempted to give up the struggle. Only Elizabeth’s plead- 
ing voice was in his ears — You will bear with him — you 
will be patient with him, will you not ?” and then again he 
would nerve himself to fresh effort. 

All at once a thought came to him as an inspiration. 
Cedric had been giving way to a perfect paroxysm of 

325 


326 


HERB OF GRACE 


despair, and Malcolm had with some sternness remon- 
strated with him on his want of manliness and self- 
control. “ You are making things worse,” he said ; 

why don’t you take your trouble like a man ?” But 
the rebuke only exasperated Cedric. 

“ Oh, it is all very well for you to talk,” he returned 
angrily, “ but if you were in my place you would not bear 
it any better. ^ You are so immaculate, Herrick, you can’t 
make allowance for a poor miserable devil like me. I 
don’t believe you have ever cared for a woman in your 
life. Good heavens !” as he caught sight of Malcolm’s 
face, “ do you mean that you have ever been in love ?” 

Then it was that the thought came to Malcolm — Cedric 
should know that he was a fellow-sufferer. 

‘‘ I do mean it,” he returned steadily, “ and I also mean 
to say that your love is as water unto wine compared to 
mine; that is, if we can call such mad infatuation by so 
sacred a name.” And there was a tone of contempt in 
Malcolm’s voice that made Cedric wince. 

Don’t be so hard on a fellow,” he muttered. 

“ My dear boy, I would not be hard on you for worlds ; 
if 1 speak of myself at such a moment, it is only that 
you may see that I am fully competent to sympathise with 
you.” 

“ Won’t you tell me more, Herrick?” 

No, dear lad, I think not, except that my case is even 
more hopeless than yours, for the only woman I have 
loved or can love will soon marry another man,” and here 
Malcolm’s face looked gray and worn. I need not add,” 
he continued hastily, “ that all this is between us both.” 

“ Of course — of course,” was the eager answer. I 
am awfully sorry — I am indeed. I wish I had not bullied 
you so.” 

Malcolm smiled a little sadly. 

“ Never mind that now. I only want to say this, we 
must take our punishment like men, and not whine like 


“HE WILL COME RIGHT’ 


327 


fractious children who want the moon — the moon is no 
nearer for all that.” He sighed a little bitterly, for he 
was tired and depressed ; and after that Cedric was more 
reasonable, and Malcolm regained some of his lost in- 
fluence. 

It was nearly morning before Malcolm could induce 
him to lie down on the couch; he had flatly refused to 
take possession of Malcolm’s bed. 

“ I could not rest quietly in bed,” he said piteously ; 
“ let me lie here while you write your letter for it had 
been arranged between them that Malcolm should send a 
note to Dinah by the early post; but long before the 
letter was written the worn-out lad was sleeping heavily. 
Malcolm covered him up with rugs before he slipped out 
to the post. Malcolm did not write a very long letter. 

“ I found Cedric here on my return home,” he wrote. 
“ He was very excited and unhappy, and I had great diffi- 
culty in bringing him to a reasonable frame of mind ; but 
he is calmer now, and is at present asleep on my couch. 
I am going with him to Oxford to-morrow, and shall 
probably remain with him for a day or two. It will never 
do to leave him alone, or that fellow Jacobi will get hold 
of him again. I find he has already lent him money. I 
have been questioning Cedric, and I find that Saul Jacobi 
trumped up a false excuse for him to make to the Dean. 
Cedric was a little incoherent on the subject, but I under- 
stood him to say that he had begged for a three days’ 
excuse on account of a sister’s illness. 

“ As far as I can make out, Jacobi merely intended 
to have the marriage ceremony performed, and to allow 
Cedric to return to Oxford the next day. He had pacified 
him by promising to bring down his sister later, and to 
take lodgings for a week or two ; but it is impossible to 
guess what the fellow really meant. As far as I can 
judge, there will be no further trouble with the authori- 
ties, but Cedric must not be left to himself. 


328 


HERB OF GRACE 


I know some excellent lodgings not a stone’s throw 
from St. John’s. Do you not think it would be a good 
thing if you and your sister were to take possession of 
them for a week or two? Cedric is not fit to be alone, 
and you will be a comfort to him. It seems to me that 
there is nothing else to be done. I cannot possibly re- 
main beyond a night or two. If you wire I will engage 
the rooms, and they shall be in readiness for you.” And 
when this letter was safely in the post, Malcolm sought 
the rest he needed so urgently, and was soon sleeping the 
heavy sleep of exhaustion. 

Elizabeth was at the Manor House when Dinah re- 
ceived her letter, but she answered it and sent off her 
telegram without an hour’s delay. 

“ I told him to take the rooms, Betty,” she said, as she 
handed the letter to her sister the next day. I have 
packed my things and shall go to-morrow. Of course, 
you will do as you like about coming too.” Elizabeth 
considered the matter. 

'' If one could only have breathing-time,” she mur- 
mured ; “ but to-morrow gives me so little time. Could 
you wait until the afternoon, Die ?” she continued, “ and 
then I could go across to Rotherwood and have a talk 
with David and his father. You see, dear, I am anxious 
to be with Cedric, and to settle you in comfortably, and 
I should also like to tell Mr. Herrick the result of my 
visit to the Manor House.” Then Dinah rather reluc- 
tantly consented to put off her journey until the after- 
noon. 

Elizabeth, preoccupied and anxious, hardly realised 
what the sacrifice of those few hours was to Dinah, who 
could literally hardly sleep or eat for her longing to com- 
fort her darling. 

Perhaps Elizabeth’s thoughts were engrossed by the 
recollection of her conversation with Leah, for she spoke 
of little else that night; but just before they separated 


WILL COME RIGHT” 


329 


she asked to read Malcolm’s letter again, and when 
she laid it down there was the old puzzled look in her 
eyes. 

“Why does he always think of the right thing?” she 
said slowly. “ What makes him so thoughtful and under- 
standing? He leaves no margin for other people. This 
Oxford plan is just splendid. You will be such a comfort 
to the poor boy, Die. You will be there waiting and 
watching for him, and ready to fuss over him like a 
mother hen, and the sly old fox will not be able to get at 
him;” and she laughed, and bade her sister good-night. 
But when she was in her own room the thoughtful look 
returned. “ He is always so wise and right,” she said to 
herself. “ He has only made one mistake — only one,” 
and her face was very grave; for no one, not even her 
chosen lover, knew how the thought of Malcolm Herrick’s 
patient sorrow oppressed Elizabeth’s tender heart. 

Dinah had good reason to regret their postponed jour- 
ney, for they arrived at Oxford too late to see Cedric that 
night; but Malcolm was at the station to receive them, 
and accompanied them to their lodgings. 

“ I am glad you made up your mind to come,” he said, 
as they drove from the station, “ for I shall be obliged to 
go up to town to-morrow, and I feel happier to leave you 
in possession. I think Cedric likes the idea of having you. 
He is not looking well, but one must expect that ; he has 
had rather a rough time of it. Oh, I forgot to say that 
he cannot possibly be with you until nearly twelve 
o’clock.” Dinah tried not to give her sister a reproachful 
look when Malcolm said this. Malcolm only waited to 
hear how they liked the rooms he had taken before he 
went back to his hotel ; but at their earnest request he 
promised to have breakfast with them the following morn- 
ing, and also to take a later train, that they might have 
time for a good talk. 

He kept his appointment punctually, and the conver- 


330 


HERB OF GRACE 


sation of course turned first on Cedric, but Malcolm was 
somewhat reticent on the subject of that stormy interview 
in Cheyne Walk. 

“ One must make allowances under such circumstances, 
and he was hardly himself that night,” was all he said, 
but they fully understood him. 

“Do you think he will get over it?” asked Dinah 
anxiously. 

“ Oh yes, he will get over it — he is so young but 
Malcolm avoided Elizabeth’s eyes as he spoke ; “ youth 
has immense advantages. But you must give him time. 
If you will take my advice, dear Miss Templeton, you 
will not watch him too closely, or trouble if you find him 
a little altered, and not quite the old Cedric. He will come 
right by-and-by.” 

“ Oh, if I could believe that,” wistfully. 

“ You must make yourself believe it. Of course he will 
give you plenty of trouble at first. He will have his bad 
days, and try to make you as miserable as he is himself, 
but you must prepare yourself for that. Think what a 
boon it will be to him to turn in here and find some one 
ready to listen to his jeremiad.” Then Dinah smiled 
faintly. 

“ I hope you intend to remain with your sister,” he 
continued, turning rather abruptly to Elizabeth. She 
coloured and hesitated. 

“ I am afraid I can only remain a week, but I shall come 
down again later on. You need not fear that Dinah will 
be dull, Mr. Herrick; if she can only be sure of seeing 
her boy for an hour in the day, she will be perfectly happy. 
I always tell her that she is cut out for a hermit, she loves 
her own company so much. I am far more gregarious in 
my tastes — the society of my fellow-creatures is absolutely 
necessary to me.” 

Malcolm was quite aware of this, but he listened 
gravely. “ I hope you mean to let me know your opinion 


“HE WILL COME RIGHT’^ 331 

of Leah Jacobi before I go/’ he observed presently. To 
his surprise she gave an embarrassed laugh. 

“ I have been dreading that question all breakfast time ; 
I am so afraid I shall shock you. It is wicked of me, of 
course, but indeed I am only too ready to sympathise with 
poor old Cedric, for I have fallen in love with her myself.” 

“ Do you know, I am not at all surprised to hear you 
say that,” observed Malcolm. 

“ You were aware of my impulsive disposition,” re- 
turned Elizabeth with another laugh. “ But she is simply 
the most beautiful creature I ever saw in my life. All 
the time I was listening to her I thought of all those fair 
women the old patriarchs loved — Sarah and Rebekah and 
Rachel ; but I think she is most like Rebekah.” 

“ I daresay you are right there,” replied Malcolm coolly 
— “ I can imagine myself that Leah Jacobi would be 
equally clever at deception.” 

“ For shame, Mr. Herrick !” in an indignant tone ; 
“ you know I did not mean that. I was thinking of the 
young Rebekah at the well at Damascus.” 

“ It was too bad of me,” he returned apologetically ; 
“ but of course I understood what you meant. There is 
a strange fascination about Miss Jacobi. It is not only 
her beauty, though that is undeniable.” 

“ No, indeed,” exclaimed Elizabeth eagerly ; “ but one 
can hardly say where the charm lies; but the moment I 
saw her deep-set, melancholy eyes, and heard her low, 
vibrating voice, I seemed to lose my heart to her. Poor 
dear Cedric, how could he help loving her? — how could 
any man resist her?” But Elizabeth checked herself as 
she became aware of Malcolm’s keen, penetrating glance. 

“ You surely do not wish him to marry her?” he asked 
in a low voice. Then Elizabeth looked quite shocked. 

“ Mr. Herrick — our brother — Cedric ; no, a thousand 
times no; neither would she marry him now. But oh, 
l\ow my heart aches for her !” 


332 


HERB OF GRACE 


“ You need not tell me that.” 

We were up half the night talking,” she went on, 
and she told me everything — everything,” and here 
Elizabeth positively shuddered. “ Oh, why are such 
things allowed ? What a mystery life is ! Mrs. Godfrey 
was with us at first, and then the Colonel carried her off ; 
but I heard the clock strike three before I left Leah’s 
room, and then I could not sleep a wink for thinking 
over some of the horrible scenes she had described.” 

I wish she had not told you,” murmured Malcolm. 
Elizabeth smiled a little sadly. 

“ It will not hurt me, and I shall be able to help her 
better. Mr. Herrick, Dinah agrees with me that we must 
never lose sight of her. I told Mrs. Godfrey so. Oh, 
that was a masterly stroke of policy, taking the poor thing 
to the Manor House. Mrs. Godfrey is so clever — she has 
an idea already. Did you ever see Mrs. Richardson, who 
lives in the red house on the road to Combe — Sandy Hol- 
low, I think they call it?” 

Do you mean that very eccentric old lady whom 
Mrs. Godfrey always calls Mother Quixote, who is so 
rich, and always travels with a white Persian cat? Of 
course I have seen her at church. She is stout, rather 
addicted to gorgeous raiment, and wears a gold pince- 
nez.” 

“ That is the very person !” exclaimed Elizabeth. Oh 
yes, she is excessively rich, has not a relative in the world, 
gives half her income away, and, as dear Mrs. Godfrey 
expresses it, spends a good deal of her time in trying to 
wash her black sheep white, and weeping over her 
failures.” 

“ And I am afraid does more harm than good in the 
long run,” observed Malcolm; but Elizabeth would not 
allow this. 

“ She is the drollest old dear in the world,” she went 
on, “ and is quite a Mrs. Malaprop in some of her sayings. 


‘,HE WILL COME RIGHT’^ 


333 


but she has the best and kindest heart in the world. Mrs. 
Godfrey means to enlist her sympathies on Leah’s behalf, 
and we have no fear of the result.” 

And you think this good lady will be able to help Miss 
Jacobi?” 

“ We are quite sure of it. Mrs. Richardson has a weak 
chest, and she always winters abroad, and she has been in 
the habit of engaging some young lady to accompany her 
as a travelling companion. Her maid is rather a crotchety 
old person, and very uneducated; besides, the cat gives 
her sufficient employment. I forgot to say he is blind, 
and rejoices in the name of Sir Charles Grandison. Mrs. 
Richardson is a descendant of the novelist, and always 
carries Clarissa Harlowe and Sir Charles Grandison about 
with her. She is full of amusing fads and fancies.” 

“ And you mean Miss Jacobi to be her travelling com- 
panion ?” 

“ Mrs. Godfrey means it — it is her idea. Anyhow, she 
promised to go round to Sandy Hollow the next day and 
give the old lady a full description of Leah, and if possible 
to arrange a meeting.” 

“ I think it a very good idea,” chimed in Dinah, her 
soft voice breaking the silence for the first time — she was 
always willing to leave the conversation in Elizabeth’s 
hands. ‘‘ Miss Jacobi seems very willing to do anything, 
poor thing, that will make her independent of her 
brother.” 

“ Yes, indeed, she is terribly afraid of him,” returned 
Elizabeth. She has reason to dread his violence, I can 
see that. Once or twice he has treated her with absolute 
cruelty, but then she owned he had been drinking. You 
see,” appealing to Malcolm, it would be such a relief to 
us all to know she was abroad, and in such kind hands ; 
and then, as Mrs. Godfrey says, she is so exactly fitted for 
the post. She is very accomplished, speaks French, Ger- 
man, and Italian fluently, and is a good reader. Oh, must 


334 


HERB OF GRACE 


you go?’' as Malcolm looked at his watch with some sig- 
nificance. 

I am afraid I must not lose this train,” he replied 
hastily, but I shall hope to run down again in a week 
or two. You will let me know how things go on,” ad- 
dressing Dinah, “ and if there be anything I can do for 
you?” and then he shook hands with Elizabeth rather 
hurriedly and went off to secure his luggage. 

“ I hope we did not keep him too long,” observed Eliza- 
beth anxiously, “ for he is running as though he were 
late.” But Dinah did not hear her; she had already 
taken up her position by the window, and was looking out 
for Cedric. 


CHAPTER XXXIV 


TRAVELLING THROUGH SAHARA 

The hope I dreamed of was a dream — 

Was but a dream; and now I wake 
Exceeding comfortless, and worn and sad 
For a dream’s sake. 

Christina Rossetti. 

For the next few weeks Malcolm was much occupied 
with business, but he contrived to pay a flying visit to 
Oxford, and to spend a few hours with Dinah and Cedric. 
He had corresponded with Dinah regularly, and her let- 
ters told him all he most wished to know. At first they 
had been very sad. Cedric had broken down utterly on 
seeing his sisters, and both she and Elizabeth had been 
very much upset. The change in him was so great that 
they could hardly recognise their bright-faced boy, and 
Dinah owned that they had been shocked by the hard, 
reckless manner in which he had spoken. “ I think Mr. 
Jacobi’s influence has done great harm,” she wrote ; 

Cedric says such extraordinary things sometimes, that 
I feel quite frightened to hear him. He never used to talk 
so — surely Oxford cannot have done this.” Malcolm 
ground his teeth rather savagely when he read this. “ He 
has poisoned the wells,” he said to himself a second time. 

There is no punishment too severe for one who tries 
to contaminate the innocence of youth !” 

Dinah’s letters became more cheerful after a time. 
Cedric liked having her near him, and she saw him for 
an hour or two every day. Elizabeth had not come down 
again. David Carlyon was not well. He had caught a 
fresh cold, and Elizabeth seemed worried about him, all 
the more that his sister was with him, and Theo did not 

335 


336 


HERB OF GRACE 


understand nursing. “ Theo Carlyon is rather an unsatis- 
factory person/’ wrote Dinah. 

By-and-by she gave him news of Leah Jacobi. Mrs. 
Godfrey’s brilliant idea was certainly likely to be verified. 
Mrs. Richardson had been several times to the Manor 
House, she wrote, and had evidently taken a fancy to 
Leah. A few days later there was still more satisfactory 
news. 

“ It is all arranged,” she wrote triumphantly. '' Mrs. 
Richardson has engaged Miss Jacobi as a travelling com- 
panion, and will pay her a handsome salary. They are 
to leave England in about ten days’ time. Mrs. Godfrey 
says that she and the Colonel will be quite 'sorry to lose 
their guest — Miss Jacobi is so gentle and affectionate that 
they have both grown fond of her; and Mrs. Godfrey 
predicts that Mrs. Richardson will never part with her.” 

Malcolm paid his second visit to Oxford soon after the 
receipt of this letter. Dinah was delighted to see him, 
and to hear that he intended to spend a quiet Sunday with 
them. 

“ I was just going to write to you,” she said, when the 
first greetings had passed between them. “ Cedric was 
so upset last night. He had a letter from that odious man 
Jacobi. Such a letter ! written on a dirty scrap of paper 
in pencil. But I will show it to you ; Cedric left it here 
and Dinah unlocked her writing-case. 

Malcolm frowned as he read it. 

I am up Queer Street, my boy,” wrote Jacobi ; 12 

Gresham Gardens is in the hands of the bailiffs, and every 
stick of furniture is to be sold ; and as England is rather 
too hot for me just now, I am going to make tracks for 
New York. If I could see that sister of mine, I would 
give her a piece of my mind. What a cursed fool the girl 
has been ! But it is all that fellow Herrick’s fault. He is 
a deep one, and he has a game of his own on hand ; I am 
as sure of that as that my name is Saul Jacobi. Well, 


TRAVELLING THROUGH SAHARA 337 


ta-ta, old fellow, I will let you know my diggings later on. 
Hang that fellow ! if it had not been for him we should 
have pulled the job through, and you would have had the 
handsomest wife in Europe. Well, that game’s played 
out, and I was never the one to cry over spilt milk. ‘ A 
short life and a merry one,’ that’s my creed. — Yours up 
to date, 

Saul Melchior Jacobi.” 

So we are rid of the brute for the present,” observed 
Malcolm. The expression seemed to alarm Dinah. 

“ For the present?” she repeated anxiously. 

My dear lady,” he returned gravely, “ do you sup- 
pose that we have seen the last of Saul Jacobi?” 

'' Indeed — indeed, I hope so,” very earnestly. 

Then ' hope told a flattering tale,’ and you must not 
believe her,” replied Malcolm smiling. The Jacobis of 
this life are not so easily shaken off. Like the horse- 
leech’s daughters, they cry ‘ Give, give.’ I should not 
be the least surprised if a series of begging letters with 
the New York postmark reached Cedric at due intervals.” 

Oh, Mr. Herrick, what shall we do?” 

Do — why, put them in the fire unread. That will be 
my advice to Cedric. I know exactly the sort of letters 
that fellow will write. The first one will be jocular and 
friendly, and the business part will be in the postscript ; 
the second will be pathetic and somewhat reproachful, 
and the demands more urgent; finally, if money is not 
forthcoming, he will bluster and threaten and make him- 
self exceedingly unpleasant. Cedric must simply have 
no dealings with him ; and above all things, he must take 
no notice of his letters.” 

'' I hope you will tell Cedric this.” And Malcolm 
promised that he would speak to him very plainly. 

But Cedric was not the docile pupil of old. The lad’s 
sweet disposition and milk of human kindness had soured 

22 


HERB OF GRACE 


338 

under the sudden shock of his trouble; the loss of his 
sweetheart and the consciousness of his own misconduct 
filled him with bitterness, and made him at times very 
irritable. Dinah’s gentleness suited him better than Mal- 
colm’s bracing counsels, and her exceeding patience with 
him in his fits of despondency sometimes roused him to 
penitence. 

By Malcolm’s advice she had told him in guarded terms 
that Leah was well, and with friends who intended to take 
her abroad; but no entreaties on Cedric’s part could in- 
duce her to reveal the names of Leah’s protectors, or how 
she had received the information. Cedric complained 
bitterly to Malcolm that they were all treating him like a 
child. 

'' Not at all, my dear fellow,” was Malcolm’s answer ; 

it is by Miss Jacobi’s wish that we keep silence. The 
lady who has engaged her as a companion is a stranger 
to all of us, but I believe she is a very kind-hearted 
woman, and that Miss Jacobi will be very comfortable 
with her.” 

Comfortable — a companion — my beautiful Leah !” 
But the pain was too great, and Cedric burst into tears. 
After all, he was little more than a boy, and Malcolm re- 
membered this and was patient. 

On Sunday afternoon, as they were coming out of 
chapel, Dinah safd suddenly, “ I quite forgot to tell you 
that Mr. Rossiter has been at the Manor House again, and 
has seen Leah, and quite approves of the arrangement 
with Mrs. Richardson. He is going back to America, 
and has promised to keep an eye on Saul Jacobi. He was 
quite confidential with Leah.” 

“ He is rather intimate with them,” returned Malcolm ; 
“ indeed, I believe he is in love with the fair Rebekah 
himself” — for he had never forgotten Elizabeth’s name 
for her. “ Hugh Rossiter is a fine fellow, and would suit 
her a hundred times better than poor old Cedric. Oh 


TRAVELLING THROUGH SAHARA 339 


well, he is too cunning a hunter to make a false shot, but 
I have a notion that he will try again some day;” and 
then Cedric came out and joined them, and they walked 
back to the lodgings. 

Malcolm was going back to town that evening, and 
when Cedric had left them Dinah talked a little about her 
future plans. 

'' Cedric is so much better,” she said, ‘‘ that I think I 
can go home next week. He will follow me in another 
fortnight, and I do not like leaving Elizabeth so long 
alone.” 

“ I think you told me that she was worried about Mr. 
Carlyon ?” returned Malcolm with manifest effort. 

Yes, indeed, and she may well be,” replied Dinah 
with a sigh. Young men are so reckless and imprudent 
— at least David is. Just think of his madness, Mr. Her- 
rick. He is not strong, and he takes cold more easily than 
other people. He got very wet taking a funeral for a 
clergyman at Dinglefield, and when he reached home, in- 
stead of changing his clothes, he went a mile farther to 
baptize a dying child. He was soaking by the time he 
got back, and a bad feverish cold set in. Elizabeth in- 
sisted that Dr. Randolph should see him ; and she wrote 
to Theo herself, but I fancy from her letters that she 
rather repented of sending for her; but poultices were 
needed, and Mrs. Pratt, his landlady, is simply an impos- 
sible woman. However, things have worked so badly 
between them that Theo has gone back to Stokeley, and 
Elizabeth declares that even her brother is thankful to be 
rid of her. But he is better now. 

'' He is up and about again, but he doesn’t lose his 
cough, and I can see Elizabeth is anxious. You look sur- 
prised, but I assure you my sister has some reason for 
her fears. David’s mother was consumptive, and two of 
his sisters died young of the same complaint. Theo is 
the only robust one, and David knows well that he ought 


340 


HERB OF GRACE 


to take care. Mr. Carlyon is always worrying about 
him.” 

Malcolm tried to express his sympathy properly, but 
he felt he acquitted himself badly. Was this the reason, 
he wondered, why Elizabeth had looked so grave? but 
he thought it wiser not to dwell on the subject. 

Malcolm was having a bad time just then. The excite- 
ment of the Jacobi episode had roused him for a while, 
but now natural reaction had set in, and the deadness and 
dulness of his daily routine oppressed him intolerably. 
Nothing interested him — nothing gave him pleasure. 
His literary work, the society of his friends, even his 
nightly smokes” with the faithful Goliath, were like the 
dust and bitterness of the apples of Sodom. The present 
was like the desert of Sahara to him, and the future a per- 
fect cavern of gloom. 

He was tired of himself and every one else, and, 
though he did not know it, his nerves were unstrung, and 
he could not always control his irritability. 

But he did his best, and fought his foul fiend” gal- 
lantly. He is a good divine that follows his own in- 
structions,” he would say grimly, when he compelled him- 
self to make fresh efforts. Anything was better than 
brooding, he thought. And in the evenings he would 
resist the temptation to yield to his weariness and to take 
possession of his easy-chair. 

For he knew too well that at such hours he was not 
master of his thoughts, and that in fancy the empty chair 
opposite to him would not long be unoccupied. 

How often had he pictured Elizabeth there as the com- 
panion of his solitude — how often had her bright face, 
with its changing expression, come between him and his 
book! And in the gloaming her pleasant voice, with its 
quick breaks and hesitation, its characteristic abruptness, 
had sounded in his ears. Sometimes he would walk to 
and fro in a perfect agony of impatience and passionate 


TRAVELLING THROUGH SAHARA 341 

rebellion against his fate. “ I am possessed, but it is 
with an angel in woman’s shape,” he would say to him- 
self ; “ and yet she is no angel either — she is far too 
human. And her faults — oh well,” with a dreary laugh, 
“ her faults are Elizabethan too.” But once, when the 
bitterness of his pain was too great, he muttered to him- 
self a strange thing. 

" It is I who ought to be in his place,” he said. “ She 
is bewitched — David Carlyon’s simplicity and goodness 
have bewitched her — ^but he is not her rightful mate.” 
And then he struck himself fiercely on the breast and 
whispered, “ He is here — he is here, Elizabeth !” 

But in spite of his inward sadness he would not spare 
himself, and every week he went as usual to Queen’s Gate 
to dine with his mother. But the long evenings tried 
him, and he found it difficult to hide his ennui and weari- 
ness from his mother’s sharp eyes. One evening, just 
before Christmas, Anna made some remarks on his tired 
looks in her gentle, affectionate way, and he had checked 
her with unwonted irritability. 

“ I wish you would get out of that habit of commenting 
on people’s looks,” he said quite angrily. It is very 
objectionable to me. I suppose every one is tired and out 
of sorts at times, but it does no good to notice it.” 

“ I am sorry, Malcolm — I will try to remember next 
time,” faltered Anna ; but the tears were in her eyes, and 
a few minutes later she left the room. 

Mrs. Herrick ventured on a remonstrance. “ I am 
afraid you have hurt Anna,” she said ; she is so sensi- 
tive, and you were quite rough with her.” 

I am afraid ' I was,” returned Malcolm penitently ; 
but if you only knew how it riles a man to be watched 
so closely.” 

“ It was a very natural speech on Anna’s part,” replied 
his mother in her sensible, matter-of-fact way. The 
truth is, Malcolm, you have not been like yourself for 


342 


HERB OF GRACE 


months — you are ill or worried, and you do not wish us to 
take any notice. Well, you shall have your way, but it is 
a little hard on us both.” 

Mother, there is nothing that I can tell you. You 
know I have said that before. One must have worries in 

this life ” But Malcolm checked himself as Anna 

came back into the room. She was rather quiet and sub- 
dued all dinner-time, though she tried to appear as usual. 
And Malcolm’s conscience pricked him unmercifully. 

Later on he found himself alone with her. She was 
drawing at a little round table, and he went and stood 
by her. 

“ Annachen/’ he said caressingly, as he put his hand 
under her chin and made her look at him, “ I was a brute 
to speak to you as I did. Of course you meant it kindly, 
dear, but it seemed to rub me up the wrong way. I think 
I am tired this evening ; anyhow, my head aches.” And 
Malcolm might have added with truthfulness that his 
heart ached too. 

Yes, and I worried you ; it was very tactless and 
foolish on my part,” and again the ready tears started to 
Anna’s eyes. But Malcolm would not allow this — his 
dear little Anna was always kind and thoughtful, and he 
had no right to be so savage with her. 

“ My mother is always hinting at my changed looks, 
but indeed I try to be as usual. If I behave so badly, I 
must keep away.” But this threat so alarmed Anna that 
he took back his words. 

He is very unhappy — I think he gets more so,” Anna 
thought, as she stood by her window that night ; “ and of 
course it is Elizabeth who makes him so.” And that 
night Anna again wept and prayed for Malcolm — her 
dearest brother, as she called him — for deep down in her 
girlish heart there was buried the pure virginal love that 
she had unconsciously given him — a love that no touch or 
breath would ever wake into life now. 


TRAVELLING THROUGH SAHARA 343 


Malcolm was very repentant for days over his unkind 
speech, and on Christmas Eve, when he paid his next 
visit, he brought Anna a peace-offering in the shape of 
a valuable proof engraving of a picture she had long 
coveted. Malcolm had had it beautifully framed. Anna 
was enchanted with the gift, but Mrs. Herrick privately 
called her son to account for hiis extravagance. 

‘‘ There was no need to make Anna such an expensive 
present,” she said seriously. You must have paid twenty 
guineas for that engraving. You are too lavish in your 
generosity. She would be quite satisfied with some pretty 
trifle.” 

I am quite sure of that,” he returned ; “ but it is such 
a pleasure to give her things. Indeed, mother,” as Mrs. 
Herrick still looked grave, I can well afford it. I have 
more money than I know how to spend, and as I am not 
likely to marry, I see no good in hoarding.” 

Malcolm was right in saying that his income was too 
large for a bachelor, for in addition to the salary he drew 
from his literary post, his mother insisted on making him 
a handsome allowance, and every quarter day a large sum 
was placed to his account at his banker’s, which Malcolm 
rarely touched. 

“ You are my only son, and there will be plenty for you 
when I die,” she had said to him ; “ and Anna shall have 
her share too. Your father was a rich man, Malcolm, and 
there is no need for you to work unless you wish to do 
so;” but Malcolm soon convinced her that an idle life 
was not to his taste. 

Just after the new year Malcolm received rather a re- 
proachful letter from Mrs. Godfrey, accusing him of for- 
getting their existence. 

Of course you will say you are busy,” she wrote, 
but I do not mean to accept that excuse. You can spend 
a quiet Sunday with us as well as at Oxford, and I beg 
to remind you that I am an older friend than Dinah Tern- 


344 


HERB OF GRACE 


pleton.” Then Malcolm somewhat reluctantly made up 
his mind to accept the invitation for the following Satur- 
day, although he was hardly in the mood for his old 
friend’s lively talk. 

To his surprise his genial hostess received him rather 
gravely, and it struck him at once that her cheerfulness 
was a little forced, and with the familiarity of their inti- 
mate friendship he at once taxed her with it. “ Colonel 
Godfrey is well, and you are quite well,” he said pointedly, 
“ and yet something seems troubling you ?” 

You are quite right,” she returned with a sigh. “ You 
know I am rather a sympathetic person, Mr. Herrick, and 
I have been very much upset this morning by a letter from 
Elizabeth Templeton. Mr. Carlyon has been up to town 
to consult Dr. Broderick. His father took him ; and from 
what she says there is nothing to be done — the poor fellow 
is in a rapid decline,” and as she said this Mrs. Godfrey’s 
eyes were full of tears. 


CHAPTER XXXV 


VIA DOLOROSA 

Bleed on beneath the rod, 

Weep on until thou see; 

Turn fear and hope to love of God, 

Who loveth thee. 

Turn all to love, poor soul ; 

Be love thy starting-point, thy goal, 

Be love thy watch and ward; 

And thy reward. 

Christina Rossetti. 

It was the Feast of the Epiphany, and morning service 
was just over in Rotherwood church, when Elizabeth 
Templeton came out of the porch and walked slowly to- 
wards the gate, as though she expected some one to over- 
take her. 

At the sound of short, hurrying footsteps behind her 
she turned round and welcomed the new-comer with a 
faint smile, and they went on together. The Rev. Rupert 
Carlyon had been taking the service at his son’s request, 
and now, as he walked beside Elizabeth and tried vainly 
to adapt his brisk, rapid step to hers, he looked more than 
ever like a gray-haired, shabby David Carlyon. The re- 
semblance between father and son had always been 
striking, and even the mannerisms and tricks of speech 
were absurdly similar. A dry, chippy little man,” Ced- 
ric had once called him, and now, in his worn Inverness 
cape and slouched clerical hat, he seemed smaller and 
more shrunken than ever. 

It was a lovely winter’s day, and the hoar-frost on the 
hedges glittered in the sunshine; the air was crisp and 

345 


346 


HERB OF GRACE 


buoyant in spite of the cold ; but Elizabeth, who so rev- 
elled in the beauty of Nature, and thought every season 
good and perfect, now only glanced round her with the 
indifferent air of one whose thoughts were elsewhere. 

You are going to the vicarage?” she remarked at last ; 

I must not take you out of your way.” 

“ Oh, I will walk as far as the White Cottage with 
you,” returned Mr. Carlyon briskly. “ You have prom- 
ised to spend my last day with my boy and me, so I shall 
be sure to turn up at tea. Charrington will give me some 
luncheon, and then I have two or three visits to pay for 
David ; he is worrying himself dreadfully about that cob- 
bler’s child.” 

“ Ah, poor little Kit,” observed Elizabeth sadly ; “ how 
sorry Mr. Herrick will be — Kit is his special protegee. 
But Dr. Randolph says that she could never have lived 
to grow up. Her stepmother is nursing her devotedly; 
but it is so sad to see Caleb Martin: he is quite bound 
up in the child, and it seems no use to try and comfort 
him. ‘ Ay, it is the Lord’s will,’ he said to me yesterday, 
' and maybe Kit will have a fine time when the angels 
make much of her ; but what will Ma’am and I do with- 
out her — that is what I want to know ?’ ” 

“ To be sure — to be sure,” returned Mr. Carlyon hur- 
riedly, “ that is what we all want to know. Well, Eliza- 
beth, you will do your best to make my boy hear reason? 
Theo and I have failed, and this is our last chance.” 

“I will do what I can,” replied Elizabeth dejectedly; 
“ but David is a difficult patient, and I very much fear 
that even I shall have little influence with him. It is so 
strange,” she continued sorrowfully, “ that with all his 
unselfishness he should think so little of our feelings in 
this.” 

Oh, you must make allowances for the morbidness of 
disease,” returned Mr. Carlyon, shaking his head. “ Sick 
people have their fancies. You must not lose heart, my 


VIA DOLOROSA 


347 


dear, — remember you are my chief comfort as well as 
David’s.” Then again she tried to smile. The next min- 
ute they came in sight of the White Cottage, and Mr. 
Carlyon left her to fulfil his self-imposed duties. 

Elizabeth was right when she confessed that David 
Carlyon was a difficult patient, for his high spirit and 
energy had prevented him for a long time from owning 
he was ill. 

Even in the early days of their engagement there had 
been symptoms that ought not to have been neglected; 
but he had fought his languor and fever manfully, and 
even Elizabeth knew nothing of an alarming attack of 
faintness that had followed an unusually hard day’s work. 

Afterwards he had taken cold, and his illness had been 
so sharp that Elizabeth in desperation had summoned 
his sister; but even then David had absolutely refused 
any further medical advice, and had also resisted all his 
friends’ entreaties that he would be moved to the vicarage 
or the Wood House to be properly nursed. “ His old dig- 
gings were good enough for the likes of him,” he would 
say, “ and though Mother Pratt had her failings, she was 
not a bad sort;” and when Elizabeth pressed him more 
closely he had seemed quite worried. 

Do give me my way in this,” he said to her coaxingly. 

If you knew how I love this dear old cottage ! It was 
in this room I first saw you, dearest. You were standing 
by that window, in the sunshine, when the vicar brought 
me to see the place, and you turned round with such a 
beaming smile on your face. I think I loved you then. I 
could not be so happy anywhere else.” And Elizabeth 
had reluctantly yielded her opinion. 

But the humble cottage rooms had been beautified and 
transformed by hers and Dinah’s thoughtful care for the 
invalid, and one comfort after another Had found their 
way from the Wood House. The very couch that Dinah 
had used in her illness, with its soft silk cushions and 


348 


HERB OF GRACE 


eider-down foot-quilt, the gold and black screen from the 
inner drawing-room, and a favourite easy-chair that 
David had often praised, were all at the White Cottage. 
Nor was Mr. Charrington behindhand in his attentions. 
His housekeeper, Mrs. Finch, always prepared the in- 
valid’s dainty little dinners: the excellent beef-tea and 
soups, the jellies, rusks, and delicate puddings, were all 
Mrs. Finch’s handiwork. Mrs. Pratt’s cookery was not 
to be depended on, and though she pretended to grumble 
at other folks’ interference, she was only too glad to be 
saved trouble. 

It may be doubted whether David Carlyon really real- 
ized his own serious condition until the physician’s opinion 
had been made known to him. “ Advanced phthisis,” 
he muttered thoughtfully. But when Dr. Broderick pro- 
ceeded to recommend Mentone or some southern health 
resort for the winter, he had turned upon him almost 
abruptly. 

“ I suppose Davos Platz would not cure me?” he asked. 
Then, as the doctor hesitated with the natural dislike to 
give pain, David continued bluntly — 

“ It would be the truest kindness on your part. Dr. 
Broderick, to tell me the truth. If I take your advice and 
go to one of these places, may I expect to get well in 
time ?” 

I am afraid not, Mr. Carlyon,” returned the physician 
reluctantly. “ It would be wrong of me to let you go 
away with this idea. You have consulted me too late — the 
disease is too far advanced. But it is my duty to tell you 
that life would certainly be prolonged in a warmer 
climate.” 

“ There, David,” and the Rev. Rupert Carlyon looked 
pleadingly at his son. 

“ Wait a moment, father,” returned David firmly ; I 
have not quite finished my questions. Let us understand 
each other, doctor. If. I go away, you tell me my life will 


VIA DOLOROSA 


349 

be prolonged — do you mean for years?” Dr. Broderick 
shook his head. 

“ Oh, I see” — but David tried not to look at his father’s 
pinched, white face — “ you mean months probably ?” 

“Yes — yes,” returned the doctor hurriedly; “with 
care, and under favourable circumstances, there might be 
no further breakdown for another year; but” — with a 
keen look at his patient — “ I will not undertake to promise 
this.” 

“ I quite understand,” returned David quietly. “ Dr. 
Broderick, I am sorry, but I cannot take your prescription. 
They sent my mother to Davos Platz — there seemed hope 
for her — and she died away from us all ; and one of my 
sisters died at Mentone too. But I do not intend to follow 
their example ;” and then he had risen from his chair and 
put an end to the interview. 

Nothing would induce him to go abroad. Even when 
Elizabeth promised that she and Dinah would go too, his 
resolution to remain in England had been unshaken. 

“ Why should I let them sacrifice themselves for me ?” 
he said to his father. “ Am I not bringing trouble enough 
on Elizabeth ? Why did I ever speak to her ? I was mad 
to let her engage herself to me — I might have known how 
it would be!” And that day David’s despondency was 
very great. 

But at other times he made heroic efforts to hide his 
deep inward sadness from Elizabeth. He was so young, 
and the love of life was so strong within him, and the 
thought of disease and death so terrible. Sometimes in 
the dark hours of the winter’s night, when his racking 
cough would not let him sleep, he wrestled with his de- 
spair as Christian wrestled with Apollyon. 

“ A soldier who refuses wounds and death,” he would ' 
say to himself — “ a minister of Christ who fears to tread 
in his Master’s footsteps, what is he but a coward and 
deserter — and I am both 1” 


350 


HERB OF GRACE 


And then the torrent of his human passion would sweep 
over his soul — his love for Elizabeth, the knowledge that 
but for this hereditary malady he would have had the 
blessed certainty of calling her wife ! 

What a noble life they two would have lived! What 
plans of unselfishness they had formed ! How the treas- 
ures of their happiness would have overflowed and fer- 
tilised other and more barren lives ! And now not life 
but death claimed him ! 

Ah, no wonder if his human weakness blenched at the 
prospect, if his heart at times quailed and grew sick within 
him ; for when one is young and happy it is not easy to 
die, and fuller life, not rest, is the thing desired. 

But there were times when his fears seemed lulled and 
tranquillised, and when, with the strange hopefulness that 
was a feature of his disease, he would even delude himself 
with the idea that the doctors were wrong, and that he 
would surely get better. 

These intervals of comparative brightness would come 
to him when the sun shone, or his nights had been less 
suflfering, or when Elizabeth was with him. Her presence 
so rested and stimulated him that it was impossible for 
him always to realise the truth. “ I can think of nothing 
but you,” he would say to her — “ I can think of nothing 
but you.” 

The sitting-room at the White Cottage looked snug and 
cosy that morning; the fire burned cheerily, and David 
Carlyon lay on his luxurious couch in the sunshine in a 
perfect nest of pillows, carefully screened from draughts, 
and with a small table beside him, with flowers and fruit 
and books — all carefully and tastefully arranged by Eliza- 
beth’s own hands, on her way to church, while the invalid 
■ was still in his bedroom. 

It was a good day with David, and the old cheery smile 
was on his lips as Elizabeth entered ; but as she knelt 
beside him to give him her usual greeting, the ravages of 


VIA DOLOROSA 


351 

the fatal disease were fearfully perceptible in the strong 
light. 

The hollowed temples and sharply-defined features, the 
tightened skin, the hectic flush, the emaciation and short- 
ness of breathing, and the constant cough, all told their 
sad tale of rapid decline and decay. Too late — she knew 
it well — for any human skill to arrest those symptoms; 
no earthly care and love could preserve that cherished life 
much longer ! 

“ You are late, dearest,” he said, holding her hand; “ I 
saw the church-goers pass a quarter of an hour ago. I 
expect you and my father were gossiping as usual. But 
all the same I know my good Fairy has been at work,” 
with a glance at his flowers. “ You must not spoil me 
like this, my darling,” and he raised her hand to his 
lips. 

'' You know I love to do it,” returned Elizabeth gently. 
And then she brought a low chair to his side, and placed 
herself where he could see her. He would lie for hours 
contentedly watching her as she worked or read to him. 
Sometimes the thin hand would touch a fold of her dress 
caressingly, as though even that were sacred to him, and 
not a change of the speaking face or an intonation of her 
voice would be lost on him. 

Perhaps no two men were more dissimilar than David 
Carlyon and Malcolm Herrick, and yet they were alike in 
this, that they each loved Elizabeth with a profound and 
noble love. 

“ You are looking serious, dear,” he said presently, as 
Elizabeth made a pretence of sorting the silks of her 
embroidery. That little piece of embroidery with its gay 
silken flowers became one of Elizabeth’s dearest relics. 
It was David who helped her choose the shades, who in- 
sisted on a spray of his favourite lilies of the valley being 
inserted. How he had praised her skill and made his 
little jokes over her industry! But the screen would 


352 


HERB OF GRACE 


never be used by him now, and the stitches were put in 
perfunctorily and with a heavy heart. 

Elizabeth had made no answer to David’s remark about 
her gravity. She was trying to collect her thoughts for 
the business she had in view ; but the next minute a hand 
was laid upon her work. 

Tell me all about it,” he said persuasively. Of 
course I know you and my father have been brewing 
mischief. I think I can read your very thoughts,” as 
Elizabeth looked up at him ; “ you need not try to hide 
things from me.” 

“ I could not if I tried,” she returned in a low voice. 

David, I want you to do something for my sake. 
Your father and I — yes, and Dinah too — have been mak- 
ing such a nice little plan. We have heard of a delightful 
house at Ventnor ; it belongs to a friend of Mrs. Godfrey, 
and it is so comfortable and so beautifully furnished, and 
with such a pleasant view. You are so fond of the sea, 
David, and your father loves it too; and we thought” — 
hesitating a moment, as she felt the grip of David’s 
fingers round her wrist — “ Dinah and I both thought it 
would be a capital arrangement to take Red Brae for three 
or four months. There would be plenty of room for you, 
and your father and Theo too,” she continued as he re- 
mained silent ; “ and it would be so nice for us to be to- 
gether, and our old nurse Mrs. Gibbon — you know Mrs. 
Gibbon, dear — would help us to take care of you.” 

David drew a deep breath. Yes, I see,” he returned 
slowly, “ and all the expense and trouble would be for me. 
Don’t I know your generosity, Elizabeth,” in a choked 
voice. “ But it is too much — I cannot do it. Don’t you 
know, darling — don’t we both know — that nothing really 
matters? Ventnor will do me no good. Let me bide 
where I am,” and David’s voice was pathetic in its plead- 
ing — “ let me die in this dear old cottage.” 

“ No, no,” returned Elizabeth, bursting into tears. 


VIA DOLOROSA 


353 


David, how can you be so cruel ! Surely you wish to 
stay longer with me ! Why need we be parted yet ! Think 
of it, dear — that it is for my sake, and your father’s and' 
Theo’s. If it is a sacrifice, it is a sacrifice for those you 
love. Oh, David, my David, it is such a little thing I ask 
— just for us to be a few months longer together. I know 
how you hated going abroad, and I would not have 
pressed it for worlds; but Ventnor — oh, David, you can- 
not have the heart to refuse me!” And Elizabeth broke 
down utterly and hid her face in her hands. 

Perhaps it was as well that she did not see David’s ex- 
pression that moment; as he lay back upon his pillows 
his face was deathly. Why did they ask this of him ? He 
was just growing more resigned and peaceful. Those 
agonised prayers of his for aid and succour had been 
answered, and the deep blessedness of an accepted cross 
seemed to fill his soul with a strange calm. He must die, 
and he knew it; but his Heavenly Father had been mer- 
ciful to him, and death had lost its terrors ; and now his 
longing was to die in the village he had chosen as his 
home, and under the shadow of the church where he had 
ministered as God’s priest. 

He knew where they would lay him : he and Elizabeth 
had chosen his last resting-place, and she had listened 
dry-eyed to his simple directions and wishes. He had 
talked out his heart to her, and her unselfish sympathy 
had been his greatest comfort. But now she was asking 
this sacrifice of him, and how was he to refuse her ? And 
yet, if Elizabeth had guessed how the thought of that exile 
filled him with dismay and desolation, she would surely 
have denied her own craving for a few more weeks of life. 
But David knew better than to tell her. 

Presently the hot hand was laid on her head. 

'' Elizabeth, let me see your dear face. You and my 
father shall have your way, darling; I will go to Vent- 
nor.” David’s breathing was so laboured that he was 

23 


354 


HERB OF GRACE 


obliged to stop here; but Elizabeth, with a cry of joy, 
threw her arms round him. 

Oh, David dear, thank you — thank you ! You have 
made me so happy!” and the smile he loved so well 
beamed through her tears. But David’s answering smile 
was rather forced. 

“ There is little cause for thankfulness,” he replied 
wearily — “ a poor helpless invalid who will only give you 
trouble! But there is one thing you must promise, 
dearest.” And, as she looked at him expectantly, he 
whispered, “ You must promise to bring me back here.” 
Then Elizabeth bowed her head in silence, for she knew 
too well what he meant. 


CHAPTER XXXVI 


“ I HAVE BEEN A COWARD” 

Father ! we need Thy winter as Thy spring ; 

We need Thy earthquakes as Thy summer showers; 

But through them all Thy strong arms carry us, 

Thy strong heart bearing large share in our grief. 

Because Thou lovest goodness more than joy 
In them Thou lovest, Thou dost let them grieve. 

George MacDonald. 

And so it was settled — Elizabeth had her way; and 
after a little they talked quietly of their future plans. 
The flitting was to be accomplished as soon as possible. 
The house would be ready for them in another week. 
Dinah would go down first to make arrangements, and 
Cedric would accompany her, and stay at Ventnor until 
it was time for him to return to Oxford. The change 
of scene would be good for him, and in many ways he 
would be useful to Dinah. Elizabeth also told David 
that his father had promised to travel down with them; 
that he intended to find a locum tenens for Stokeley, and 
that he would probably remain with them for a month. or 
six weeks; and this last item of information seemed to 
afford David much satisfaction. But the next moment he 
observed, in rather a worried tone, that it would be a 
great expense, and that he was afraid Theo would object. 

“ Theo will have to mind her own business,” returned 
Elizabeth severely. Your father means to tell her that 
you are his first duty, and of course he is right.” But 
Elizabeth carefully forbore to tell David that she had 
already undertaken to pay the expenses of the locum 
tenens for three months, and by dint of sheer obstinacy 
and feminine persuasions she had at last induced Mr. 
Carlyon to accept her bounty. 


355 


356 


HERB OF GRACE 


“ My poverty and not my will consents/’ he observed 
sadly. But Elizabeth would not listen to this. 

“ Dear Mr. Carlyon,” she had said earnestly, “ if you 
only knew the pleasure this will give me. Can you not 
understand that I only cared for my money because it 
would be his, and now what good will it be to me? Let 
me use it for him as long as I can. Let me do all in my 
power for him and you too — as though — as though I were 
already your daughter.” And then, as she wiped away a 
few quiet tears, Mr. Carlyon had yielded. 

David strove with his wonted unselfishness to interest 
himself in Elizabeth’s plans for his comfort. He heard 
how the inner drawing-room at Red Brae was to be con- 
verted into a bedroom, that he might be able, without 
fatigue, to take possession of the drawing-room couch 
by the pleasant window, with its view of the sea; and 
how a smaller room on the same floor was to be prepared 
for his father. But by and bye, in spite of his efforts, his 
attention flagged, and he looked so exhausted that Eliza- 
beth refused to say another word. 

“ I shall give you your luncheon, and then read you 
to sleep,” she said, in what David called her Mother 
Gamp tone but he was too worn out to resist, and 
though forgetfulness was not to be obtained, it was cer- 
tainly a comfort to lie with closed eyes and listen to Eliza- 
beth’s dear voice, till the twilight compelled her to close 
the book, and then she sat by him in silence until he asked 
her to light the lamp. 

Tea was ready before Mr. Carlyon returned. As he 
opened the door he gave a quick, anxious glance at Eliza- 
beth. 

“ Come in, dad, it is all right,” observed David in a 
weak voice, but he spoke with his old cheeriness. “ Wil- 
ful man, and wilful woman too, must have their way, and 
I have given in like a good boy.” 

That’s a dear lad,” returned his father, rubbing his 


^‘I HAVE BEEN A COWARD^ 


357 


cold hands gleefully together. “ I knew you would make 
him hear reason, Elizabeth. She is worth the rest of us 
put together, is she not, Davie?’’ 

“ Mr. Carlyon,” interrupted Elizabeth, “ David is tired 
and must not talk any more, and some one else is tired 
too.” And then she drew up an easy-chair by the fire 
and gave Mr. Carlyon his tea, and talked to him softly 
about Mr. Charrington and Kit, until it was time for her 
to go; but even then she refused to bid him good-bye. 
“ I shall be at the station,” she whispered, as he kissed 
her forehead ; “ we can say things to each other then,” 
and he understood her and nodded. 

But later on, as Mr. Carlyon sat beside his son’s bed- 
side, with the worn little book of devotions out of which 
he had been reading to him still open in his hands, he was 
struck with the strained, troubled look in David’s eyes. 

What is it, my dear ?” he said wistfully, for the 
curate-in-charge of Stokeley had homely little ways and 
tricks of speech that endeared him still more to those 
who loved him, and Elizabeth would often praise the sim- 
plicity and unobtrusive goodness that reminded her of 
David. 

“ There is something on your mind,” he continued ten- 
derly ; “ make a clean breast of it, my boy. You and I un- 
derstand each other — don’t we, Davie?” and Mr. Carlyon 
gently patted his son’s hand, as though he were still a 
little child. “ Out with it, lad — you are not quite happy 
about Ventnor?” 

“ Father, how could you guess that?” returned David 
in a deprecating voice. “ If you knew how I hate myself 
for being so cowardly and ungrateful. Promise me — 
promise me, dad, that you will never let Elizabeth know 
how badly I feel about it ; it would make her so unhappy.” 

“ So it would, poor girl — so it would,” rejoined Mr. 
Carlyon, for in his eyes Elizabeth was still a girl, and the 
very dearest of daughters to him. 


358 


HERB OF GRACE 


“ She and Dinah have planned it all for me/’ continued 
David. “ I know what a sacrifice it is to Dinah, for she 
does so dislike leaving home; but she is doing it for 
Elizabeth’s sake.” 

“ You are doing it for Elizabeth’s sake too, are you not, 
David ?” asked his father quietly. Then the harassed face 
brightened at once. 

“ Let me tell you all about it, dad,” he returned eagerly 
— “ it will be such a comfort ; you have often been my 
father-confessor before. If you knew how my heart sank 
when Elizabeth begged me to go to Ventnor, and yet how 
was I to refuse her when she said, with tears in her eyes, 
that my consenting to the plan would probably give her a 
few more weeks of happiness. You know how she meant 
it?” 

Oh yes, I know, David,” in the same quiet tone. 

“ Of course, I could not refuse. I dared not be guilty 
of such selfishness, for — after all, what does a little more 
pain matter?” and here David drew a heavy sigh of 
intense weariness. “ But I was so tired, and then I 
knew that the battle would have to be fought all over 
again.” 

“ I am not sure that I understand you, dear lad.” 

No, because I am not making things clear; but I will 
try to do so, and then you must help me. I have been a 
coward, father — that’s the truth — and have rebelled 
against my hard fate — God’s will was not my will, and I 
wanted to live and marry Elizabeth.” 

Ay, David boy, I know.” 

Yes, you know,” with a sad, yearning look at the 
gray head bent now upon the trembling hands. “ You 
know that was how my mother felt when she went so far 
away from us to die — she only consented to go because 
she wanted to live.” 

“ And it broke her heart to leave us,” returned his 
father huskily. “ Dear heart, how she prayed that we 


“I HAVE BEEN A COWARD’’ 359 

might be spared that parting; but the Divine Will or- 
dered otherwise.” 

I have prayed too,” murmured David, and then, 
thank God! the strength and help I needed so sorely 
came. I have felt so peaceful lately, and now the strug- 
gle will begin again.” 

Oh no, surely not, David.” 

‘‘ Yes, father, it must. I shall get better for a time, and 
I shall have the sunshine, and Elizabeth’s dear love, and 
life will grow too precious to me again, and I shall dis- 
honour my Master, and put Him to shame, by wanting 
to lay down my cross.” 

“ No, David, I am not afraid of that,” returned his 
father gravely. My own boy, this is only one of the 
dark hours, when the evil one tempts you in your weak- 
ness; need I remind you of what you have so often 
preached to others, that as thy day thy strength will be, 
and that help never comes beforehand?” 

“ True, but I seem to forget everything.” Then a 
warm, comforting hand was laid tenderly upon David’s 
forehead. 

I shall remind you. We shall not be parted yet, my 
son, and God will help me to say the right words to you. 
Ah, David,” in a reverent tone, many lives have their 
Gethsemanes, but only one ever drank the bitter cup of 
sorrow to the dregs without a murmur, and only one had 
an angel to comfort Him. He will not be hard on us 
because our human will shrinks from some hard cross of 
pain, for ^ He knoweth our frame,’ and in our weakness 
and extremity He will be our staff and our stay.” And 
in trembling tones he blessed his boy, and sat beside him 
in voiceless prayer and the deep, inward supplication of 
exceeding love, nor did he leave him until David had sunk 
into an exhausted sleep. 

David was very feverish and unwell the next day, and 
Mr. Carlyon could not leave him; but after a few hours 


360 


HERB OF GRACE 


he grew better again, and as the days went on he seemed 
to recover his old cheerfulness. 

One afternoon, as Elizabeth was sitting with him as 
usual — for she always spent her afternoons at the White 
Cottage — he surprised her by asking if Malcolm Herrick 
never came to the Wood House now. 

“ How strange that you should ask that question,” re- 
turned Elizabeth, colouring slightly at the mention of 
Malcolm’s name, for he is coming down this very even- 
ing, and Cedric is driving to Earlsfield to meet him. 
Dinah asked him to come,” she went on ; “ she wanted 
to talk to him about Cedric.” 

“ Herrick is Dinah’s right-hand man of business — she 
quite swears by him,” replied David, smoothing tenderly 
a ruffled lock of brown hair that the wind had disordered. 

I suppose he will remain the night ?” 

“ Oh yes, of course. Dinah has got a room ready for 
him; she told him that she should not allow him to go 
to the ‘ King’s Arms.’ ” 

“ It was right for her to put her foot down,” returned 
David approvingly. “ Why on earth need he scruple to 
accept your hospitality ! Somehow I always liked Her- 
rick, though I am not so sure that he returned the com- 
pliment ; perhaps under the circumstances one could 
hardly expect it.” 

Elizabeth’s face grew hot — the subject was a painful 
one to her. Never mind about Mr. Herrick, dear,” she 
said hurriedly ; “ Dinah and he are great friends.” 

“ You need not tell me that,” in rather a meaning tone ; 

Dinah has excellent taste. Dearest,” his voice changing 
to seriousness, “ I want you to give Herrick a message 
from me. Tell him I should like to shake hands with 
him when he goes to the vicarage.” 

Do you really want me to say this to him ?” and there 
was little doubt from Elizabeth’s face that she was re- 


‘‘I HAVE BEEN A COWARD’’ 361 

luctant to give the message. But David meant to have his 
way. 

“ Yes, tell him,” he repeated. “ He and Cedric are sure 
to walk over in the morning — the vicar and Herrick are 
such cronies; and why should he pass my door?” And 
this seemed so plausible that Elizabeth said no more ; but 
as she walked home she wondered more than once over 
this strange fancy on David’s part. There had been so 
little intercourse between the two young men — a secret 
sense of antagonism on Malcolm Herrick’s part had been 
an obstacle to David’s proffered friendliness. It was true 
that Mr. Herrick must pass the White Cottage on his 
way to the vicarage, and even without the message his 
good feeling would probably have induced him to stop 
and inquire after the invalid, but she felt David’s request 
would surprise him. Nevertheless, she must do his will 
and give the message. 

Elizabeth was later than usual that evening, and she 
found that Malcolm had just arrived, and was talking to 
Dinah in the drawing-room. He was standing before the 
fire warming himself after his cold drive, and as Eliza- 
beth entered he broke off in the middle of a sentence and 
silently shook hands with her. Elizabeth felt at once con- 
scious that his manner was even more constrained and 
guarded than usual, and this made her nervous, and for 
the moment she could find nothing to say. It was a relief 
to them both when Dinah observed in her quiet, matter- 
of-fact way — 

Mr. Herrick is so kind and obliging, Betty ; he has 
promised not to leave us until quite late to-morrow after- 
noon — that will give us plenty of time for a nice talk. 
You see, Cedric will be with us this evening, and we 
may find it difficult to get rid of him, and there is so much 
that I want to say.” 

“ I think I can take him off your hands,” replied Eliza- 
beth; and then she turned to Malcolm, though he no- 


362 


HERB OF GRACE 


ticed that she avoided looking at him, and there was a 
curious abruptness in her manner that almost amounted 
to awkwardness. 

“ Mr. Carlyon has sent you a message, Mr. Herrick. 
He thinks you will be sure to call at the vicarage, and 
he would like you to look in at the White Cottage as you 
pass. He says that he would be pleased to shake hands 
with you.” 

There was no doubt that Malcolm was surprised. He 
unconsciously stiffened. 

“ He is very kind,” he said rather formally ; “ but of 
course I meant to call, or at least leave my card — I had 
just told your sister so.” 

“ Perhaps you had better call at the vicarage first,” re- 
turned Elizabeth hurriedly. “ Mr. Carlyon is rarely out 
of his room before mid-day, and all hours are alike 
to Mr. Charrington.” And when Malcolm had gravely 
agreed to do this, Elizabeth went upstairs to prepare 
for dinner, and did not appear again until the gong 
sounded. 

She did not forget her promise, however, of taking 
Cedric off Dinah’s hands, and as soon as they had finished 
their coffee she challenged him to a game of chess in the 
inner drawing-room, where on cold nights a second fire 
generally burned. 

The rooms were so large that unless Dinah and Mal- 
colm raised their voices it was impossible to hear their 
conversation, and as Cedric had his back to them he had 
no idea that they were talking more confidentially than 
usual ; but from Malcolm’s position Elizabeth’s face stood 
out in full relief, and in spite of all his efforts his atten- 
tion often wandered. 

Even in those few short weeks since they had last met 
he could see a change in her. She had grown thinner and 
paler, and there was a deepened sadness in her eyes ; and 
yet in his opinion she had never looked more lovely, 


“I HAVE BEEN A COWARD’’ 363 

though it was more the inward than outward loveliness 
that he meant. 

He noticed how mechanically she played, and how the 
game failed to interest her. When Cedric checkmated her 
twice, she only rose with an air of relief, as though she 
had finished a wearisome task, and came towards them. 

“ I am cold,” she said simply, as Dinah made room for 
her ; “ we nearly let the fire out between us.” But as she 
sat in her snug corner warming her hands, she did not 
attempt to join in the conversation. Indeed, her manner 
was so absent that Malcolm felt convinced that she heard 
little of what they said, and he was not surprised that 
Dinah noticed it at last. 

“ You are tired, Betty dear,” she said kindly ; I am 
quite sure that Mr, Herrick will excuse you and Eliza- 
beth availed herself at once of this permission to with- 
draw. 

“ She is not at her ease,” Malcolm thought bitterly. 
“ She seems afraid of me somehow ; she will not meet 
my eyes, and she has scarcely spoken a dozen words to 
me.” And he sighed, for it seemed the saddest thing to 
him that she should suffer, and that he should be power- 
less to help her; and in his fanciful way he said to him- 
self, “ We are like two travellers walking along stony 
paths with a high wall between us, so that no helping- 
hand can be stretched out, and no voices of comfort can 
be heard.” And then he added, I dare not even tell her 
that I am sorry for her, and for him too.” 

Malcolm was alone when he paid his visit to the White 
Cottage. There was no doubt that the change in David 
Carlyon shocked him greatly, though he strove to hide 
this from the invalid. 

David welcomed him with his old cordiality ; but Mal- 
colm, who was exceedingly nervous, could only stammer 
out a few commonplaces. 

The bright, eager young face that Elizabeth so loved 


3^4 


HERB OF GRACE 


was shrunken and wasted, the lips seemed drawn from the 
teeth, and yet at times the old cheery smile played round 
them; but the voice was weak and toneless, and every 
now and then the hard, dry cough seemed to rack him 
cruelly. 

“ If you knew how sorry I am to see you like this,’' 
observed Malcolm kindly. 

“ Well, I am rather a poor specimen just now,” re- 
turned David with a feeble laugh ; “ but what can’t be 
cured must be endured — eh, Herrick? I told Elizabeth” 
(here a shade came over Malcolm’s face) that I should 
like to shake hands with you. When a fellow is going 
a long journey” — and here David’s hollow eyes grew a 
little sad and wistful — “ it seems natural to bid one’s 
friends good-bye. We did not know each other much, 
Herrick, but I always wanted to see more of you.” 

“ You are very good to say so” — but if his life had de- 
pended on it Malcolm could not have brought himself to 
say more at that moment. He wished himself a hundred 
miles away. 

A quaint, sweet smile flitted across David’s face; he 
could read Malcolm’s thoughts. 

“ You have been such a good fellow, Herrick, and have 
done so much for them all. That was a bad business with 
Cedric, but at his age he will get over it — you and I know 
that.” 

“We do indeed,” returned Malcolm gravely. 

“ Dinah comes and talks to me sometimes,” went on 
David. “ She says that if you had been their own brother 
you could not have done more ; she is so grateful to you, 
Herrick.” Perhaps he would have said more, but Mal- 
colm checked him. 

“ Never mind that, Carlyon ; it was a great pleasure to 
me to do it. Now let us talk of something more interest- 
ing.” And then for a short time they talked of Oxford 
and the boat-race; and then of Ventnor, which Malcolm 


“I HAVE BEEN A COWARD’ 


36s 


knew well — he had even spent an evening^ at Red Brae 
when the Godfreys were staying there. “ The house is 
charming/^ he said quite enthusiastically ; I know the 
rooms you will have, Carlyon, and they are delightful ’’ 

David did not respond, and he was evidently getting 
tired, so Malcolm rose to take his leave. 

“ I wish — I wish I could do something for you too,” 
he said with such sincerity that David was quite touched. 

“ I have had my good things,” he returned in a low 
voice, ‘‘ and now I must dree my weird. Don’t worry, 
Herrick — things generally come right in the long run, 
but we must not try to act Providence too much. Good- 
bye — God bless you.” The thin hand wrung Malcolm’s 
with surprising force; but Malcolm’s eyes were a little 
misty as he went out of the room, for he knew — he knew 
too well — that in this life he should never see David Carl- 
yon’s face again ! 


CHAPTER XXXVII 


THE PARTING OF THE WAYS 

Shall I forget on this side of the grave ? 

I promise nothing : you must wait and see. 

Patient and brave. 

(O my soul, watch with him and he with me !) 

Shall I forget in peace of Paradise? 

I promise nothing : follow, friend, and see. 

Faithful and wise. 

(O my soul, lead the way he walks with me!) 

Christina Rossetti. 

A FEW days after the invalid had safely reached Vent- 
nor, Dinah wrote one of her pleasant, chatty letters to 
Malcolm. She told him that David had borne the long- 
journey fairly well, and that he and Mr. Carlyon were 
charmed with Red Brae. “ I wish Cedric could have 
stayed longer,” she finished. He has been such a dear 
good boy; but I am afraid he is still very unhappy. Eliz- 
abeth heard from Mrs. Godfrey yesterday. Leah has 
been ill with influenza, but Mrs. Richardson has nursed 
her like a mother. Leah seems devoted to her already. 
The poor girl told Mrs. Godfrey that she had never had 
such a kind friend in her life.” 

As the weeks went on, Dinah wrote still more cheerily. 
“ The improvement in David is quite surprising,” she said 
in one of her letters. “ Even Dr. Hewlitt seems aston- 
ished. He is able to be out in his bath-chair every day, 
and on sunny afternoons he spends hours on the balcony. 
Mr. Carlyon is always with him. It is beautiful to see 
their devotion to each other. They seem to think alike on 
every subject. He and Elizabeth read aloud by turns, 
and I like to take my work there and listen to them. ' 
366 


THE PARTING OF THE WAYS 367 

“ A happy family party/’ thought Malcolm a little bitterly, 
as he put down the letter. Even now he could have found 
it in his heart to envy his rival ; but the next moment he 
dismissed the unworthy thought. 

But it was only a temporary rally. Dr. Hewlitt told 
Dinah privately one day that there was no real improve- 
ment in the patient’s condition, and that at any time there 
might be a sudden change for the worse ; when they least 
expected it, haemorrhage or collapse might set in. And 
the doctor’s fears were verified. 

One day, late in March, David seemed unusually well. 
A gale had blown all night, but towards morning the 
wind had lulled and a heavy rain had set in, and David 
had expressed some disappointment at having to remain 
indoors ; but Mr. Carlyon, who considered himself 
weather-wise, assured him that the weather would im- 
prove later. 

The gale had disturbed Elizabeth, and she had found 
it impossible to sleep for hours, and when she rose the 
next morning she felt unusually weary and depressed. 
A strange foreboding — a sense of separation and loss — 
seemed to oppress her, and no efforts on her part could 
enable her to maintain her wonted cheerfulness. Her 
dejection was so evident that David noticed it at last, and 
when Mr. Carlyon had put on his old mackintosh and 
gone out for a blow on the parade, he gently rallied her 
on her depression. 

“ What is it, dearest ?” he asked rather anxiously. 

You are not your bright self this morning. You are 
so good and unselfish, darling, that you never let me see 
when you are unhappy, but to-day you cannot hide it 
from me.” Then he took her hands and held them so that 
he could see her face. 

I do not know what has come over me,” returned 
Elizabeth in a mournful voice, but all night long and 
this morning my heart has felt as heavy as lead.” Great 


368 


HERB OF GRACE 


tears welled in her eyes, and she suddenly laid her head 
down on his shoulder. “ Oh, David — David, if I could 
only go too ; life will be so long and difficult without 
you.” He stroked her hair for a few minutes without 
speaking. She was thinking of the parting that must 
surely come, and he must find some word to comfort her. 
“ If I could only feel that you were near me,” she whis- 
pered, “ even though I could not see you or hear your 
voice — that you were still loving me and watching over 
my poor life !” 

“ Dearest,” he returned tenderly, “ I have often had 
these thoughts. More than once my father and I have 
spoken of it. It is his idea that nothing can divide us 
from those we love. Continuity of life — continuity of 
love, that is his creed.” 

“ Is it yours too, David ?” 

Dear Elizabeth,” returned the young man simply, 
“ the future is so veiled in mystery and silence that one 
hardly knows what one believes, except that all will be 
well with us. It seems to me that even in paradise we 
must still love our dear ones and pray for them, so tossed 
and buffeted by the waves of this troublesome world ; 
but more than that I dare not say. I think I must always 
love you — there as well as here.” Then she smiled at 
him through her tears. 

“ Dear love,” he went on a moment later, “ there is 
something I have often wanted to say, and yet the words 
were difficult to utter. Elizabeth, life is long as you say, 
and your great loving heart must not remain unsatisfied. 
Do not mourn for me too long — do not refuse comfort 
that may be offered to you, if you can be happy, dear.” 
But here Elizabeth’s hand was laid over his lips. 

“ No — no, you shall not say it — I will not hear it 
and Elizabeth’s eyes were wide with trouble. “ David — 

David ” and then she could say no more for her wild 

weeping. 


THE PARTING OF THE WAYS 369 

Hush — hush, my darling — I cannot bear this,^’ and 
David’s lips grew so white that Elizabeth in alarm con- 
trolled herself. But as she gave him a restorative, he 
held out his feeble hand to Her. “ Forgive me if I said too 
much,” he pleaded ; “ I thought perhaps it might be a 
comfort afterwards. Dear Elizabeth, be true to yourself 
as you have been true to me, and may God bless and re- 
ward you for all your goodness to me and mine !” David 
spoke with strange solemnity, for, though neither of 
them guessed it then, this was their last farewell before 
the parting of the ways. 

The evening passed tranquilly. Elizabeth seemed less 
dejected, but her head ached, and she sat silently be- 
side David, while Mr. Carlyon went on with the book 
they were reading. Once, when there was a pause, she 
looked up and saw David’s rapt gaze fixed on the sunset, 
while a look of almost unearthly beauty seemed to trans- 
form his emaciated features. She would have spoken to 
him; but he made a gesture as though for silence, and 
again that awful sense of separation seemed to pass be- 
tween them. Mr. Carlyon put down his book, and looked 
too at the wondrous pageant of the sea and sky. “ The 
bridegroom has run his race,” murmured David in a 
strange voice. “ What regal robes of gold and crimson ! 
Father, this is the best sunset we have seen yet.” 

“ Ay, that it is, David,” returned Mr. Carlyon ; “ but 
you are looking weary, my boy, and I must be getting 
you to bed. Will you ring for Nurse Gibbon, Elizabeth?” 
But as she did so she noticed how feebly David walked, 
and how heavily he leant on his father’s arm. 

Half an hour later, as Elizabeth was standing on the 
balcony enjoying the cool spring air, she heard Mr. Carl- 
yon call her loudly. Then a bell rang, and she and Dinah 
rushed into David’s room. One look at the changed, livid 
face told them the truth. Dinah sent off for the doctor, 
and she and Elizabeth tried all possible remedies, but in 

24 


370 


HERB OF GRACE 


vain. Sudden collapse had set in. David could not 
speak; but for one moment his dying eyes rested on 
Elizabeth’s face, and his last act of consciousness was to 
try to put her hand in his father’s. 

“ I understand, David,” Elizabeth stooped and whis- 
pered into his dull ear. Yes, we will take care of each 
other, and comfort each other;” and then a faint, flicker- 
ing smile seemed to cross his face, but the next moment 
unconsciousness set in. For hours Elizabeth knelt beside 
him with her arm supporting the pillow under his head, 
while on the other side the stricken father offered up sup- 
plications for his dying son. When his voice quavered 
and broke with human weakness, and Dinah begged him 
to spare himself, he shook his gray head. Maybe he 
hears me — I will go as far as I can with him down the 
valley of the shadow of death.” And then he folded his 
trembling hands together. “ Oh, David — David, would 
God I had died for thee, my son — my son !” 

“ It was very sudden,” wrote Dinah to Malcolm the 
next morning. “ Dear David had seemed so much better 
that day ; but Dr. Hewlitt had warned us of probable col- 
lapse and heart-failure. 

‘‘ He had only left us half an hour, and Mr. Carlyon 
was reading the Evening Psalms to him, when he saw a 
change in him and called to us. 

“ I am sure David knew us when we went in, but he 
could not speak, and then unconsciousness came on. The 
end was so quiet that we hardly knew when he left us. 
W e have telegraphed to Theo ; there is much to be done. 
Dear Elizabeth is very good and calm. She and Mr. 
Carlyon are never apart ; he can do nothing without her. 

“ He looks quite aged and broken, and no wonder : he 
has known so much trouble, and David was his only son.” 

Dinah secretly marvelled at Elizabeth’s wonderful self- 
control and calmness. During those trying days no one 
saw her shed tears: it seemed as though her grief was 


THE PARTING OF THE WAYS 


371 


too deep and sacred for outward manifestation. But 
when Dinah gently hinted at her surprise, Elizabeth 
looked at her almost reproachfully. 

“ I thought you would have understood, Die,” she re- 
turned in a low voice. “ David, my David, is a saint in 
paradise, and one must be still and reverent in one’s grief. 
When one has to mourn all one’s life, there need be no 
excitement.” And then she murmured, “ I shall go to 
him, but he shall not return to me and then, as Dinah 
took her sister’s hand and kissed it almost passionately in 
her love and sympathy, one of the old beautiful smiles 
lighted up Elizabeth’s face. 

I was as one who dreamed,” she said later on ; and 
indeed it was a strange dual life that she lived. There 
were the quiet hours when she knelt beside the coffin — 
when her thoughts seemed winged, and carried her to the 
still land where her beloved walked in green pastures and 
beside still waters ; when in fancy she seemed to hear far- 
off echoes of melodious voices ; when for David’s sake 
she would feel comforted and at rest. 

“ He did not want to die,” she would say to herself — 
“ life was sweet to him — but God gave him grace to offer 
up his will, and then peace came. Darling — darling,” 
laying her cheek against the coffin, “ you will never suffer 
again — no more pain or weariness — no more conflict and 
temptation — only fuller life and more faithful service — 
for His servants shall serve Him, and they shall see His 
face.” Elizabeth marked those words with a red cross on 
the margin of her Bible on the day David died. 

But there was another reason for Elizabeth’s self-con- 
trol and unselfishness. She was anxious on Mr. Carlyon’s 
account. Dinah was right when she told Malcolm that 
he was much aged and broken. “ I have lost my Benja- 
min, the son of my right hand,” he had said to her — 
“ God’s hand is heavy upon me ;” and though he strove 
to bear his sorrow with resignation, his feebleness alarmed 


372 


HERB OF GRACE 


them all. Theo, as usual, was undisciplined in her grief. 

He will die too/’ she lamented. “ Elizabeth, David has 
gone, and now poor father will follow him. I have never 
seen him look so ill. David and he were everything to 
each other.” 

“ Hush, Theo,” returned Elizabeth quietly, “ we must 
give him time. It has been a great shock. We must 
not let him know that we are anxious.” And, forgetful 
of her own trouble, Elizabeth ministered to him with 
filial devotion. No one else could induce him to take food. 
She would bring the cup of soup, or the glass of wine, 
and sit beside him as he took it; or lure him gently to 
talk to her of David — of his childhood or boyhood. “ No 
one does him so much good as Miss Templeton,” Dr. 
Hewlitt observed one day to Dinah. I confess I was a 
bit anxious about him for two days — he has a weak heart, 
and I did not quite like his look; but your sister has 
brought him round.” 

Elizabeth smiled happily when Dinah told her this. 

“ I am glad Dr. Hewlitt said th^t, Die. T do love to 
take care of him ; it is the only thing I can do for David 
now.” 

“ Father,” she said to him one day — for when they 
were alone she always called him by that name — ‘‘ I think 
you have still some work to do before your rest time 
comes. You are getting better, are you not?” 

Then he looked at her with sad wistfulness. 

“ I think I am not worthy to go yet,” he returned 
humbly. ‘‘ I must do my Master’s work as long as He 
gives me strength to do it. Oh, Elizabeth, they are all 
there — all but Theo and I — David’s mother, and Alice, 
and Magdalene, and our little Felicia, and now David has 
joined them in that heavenly mansion.” 

“ But you will go too, dear, when the Master says, 
' Go up higher,’ ” whispered Elizabeth. 

Then the slow tears of age gathered in Mr. Carlyon’s 


THE PARTING OF THE WAYS 373 


eyes. “ Yes — yes, I know it ; but the flesh is weak, Eliza- 
beth. Pray for me that I may have patience and then 
he rested his gray head against her as she knelt beside 
him, as though the burden of that sorrow were too heavy 
for him to bear. 

Malcolm was in the churchyard that sunshiny April 
day when they buried David in the tranquil spot that 
he had chosen for his last resting-place. Not only the 
people of Rotherwood, but friends from Staplegrove and 
Earlsfield, and from the villages for miles round, were 
gathered there — for the young clergyman had been much 
beloved. Very near the newly-made grave was a tiny 
grassy mound where little Kit lay; and at Malcolm’s 
side stood a small, shabbily-dressed man, with pale watery 
blue eyes and an air of extreme dejection, nervously 
fumbling with the crape band on his hat. Malcolm had 
just laid a little spray of violets and lilies of the valley on 
the mound, as they waited for the funeral procession. 

She was fond of flowers, Caleb.” 

Ay, that she was, sir,” brightening up. “ Kit loved 
everything that was bright and pretty, bless her dear 
heart ! I hope they’ll give her lots of flowers where she’s 
gone, and that they will let her pick them for herself. 
You mind her last words to me, Mr. Herrick — ‘ Good- 
bye, dad, I am a-going to be an angel, and I mean to be a 
real splendid one,’ and all the time her poor throat would 
hardly let her speak.” 

“ Poor little soul,” murmured Malcolm compassion- 
ately ; for Kit had suffered greatly in her heroic childish 
fashion. “ Hush, here they come, Caleb.” 

Malcolm grew quite white when he saw Elizabeth 
looking like a widow in her deep mourning and crape veil, 
leaning on Mr. Carlyon’s arm. She had chosen the two 
hymns that David’s favourite choir-boys were to sing — 
” For all the saints who from their labours rest,” and 
“ How bright those glorious spirits shine.” They were 


374 


HERB OF GRACE 


singing the last when the breeze caught Elizabeth’s veil 
and blew it aside, and he had a glimpse of her face. The 
beauty of her expression — its patient sadness, its calm 
faith — moved him strangely. He is not here,” it seemed 
to say — “ he has gone to a world where there are no more 
sorrow and sighing, and God shall wipe away all tears.” 
And then the boys’ voices rang sweetly through the 
churchyard : 

“ ’Midst pastures green He’ll lead His flock, 

Where living streams appear; 

And God the Lord from every eye 
Shall wipe off every tear.” 

Malcolm lingered behind until the crowd had dispersed, 
and then he and Caleb looked down at the flower-decked 
coffin. Loving hands had lined the walls of the grave 
with grasses and spring flowers. Lent lilies and blue hya- 
cinths, until it looked like a green bower decked with 
blossoms. Countless wreaths and crosses and rustic 
bunches of flowers lay on the grass waiting until the 
grave was filled. Malcolm looked at them all before he 
went back to town ; but all that evening the remembrance 
of Elizabeth’s rapt, uplifted look remained with him. 

“ She did not know I was there,” he said to himself. 
But he was wrong. The very next evening he had a 
note from Dinah. 

Elizabeth wants me to thank you,” she wrote, “ for 
your lovely cross. She thought it so kind of you to be 
there with us. We both saw you. Was it not all peaceful 
and beautiful? Next Thursday Elizabeth is going to 
Stokeley with Mr. Carlyon. He is better, but still very 
weak and ailing, and she dare not leave him to Theo. 
When I am alone, will you come down for a night? it 
would be such a comfort to talk to so kind a friend.” And 
then when Malcolm read this he made up his mind that 
he would go to the Wood House as soon as Elizabeth had 
left for Stokeley. 


CHAPTER XXXVIII 


TANGLED THREADS 

God has furnished us with constant occasions of bearing one 
another’s burdens. For there is no man living without his fail- 
ings, no man that is so happy as never to give offence, no man 
without his load of trouble. 

A loving heart is the great requirement . — Teaching of Buddha. 

Cedric had spent the Easter vacation v^ith Malcolm at 
Cheyne Walk. Malcolm had previously sounded Dinah 
before he gave the invitation, and found that she fully 
appreciated the thoughtfulness that prompted it. '' It is 
so like your usual kindness, dear friend,'^ she wrote. 

You felt, as we do, that the Wood House would be too 
quiet and dull just now for Cedric. It is so much better 
for him to be with you. Indeed, I shall not mind being 
alone; and when Cedric goes back to Oxford you will 
run down to see me as you promised.” 

Malcolm was relieved to find a great improvement in 
Cedric. Though his love-affair had ended so disastrously, 
he had achieved his pet ambition, and had been in the win- 
ning boat in the Oxford and Cambridge boat-race. The 
excitement and months of training had done him good 
morally and physically, and though he was still depressed 
and melancholy, and had by no means forgotten Leah, he 
showed greater manliness and self-control, and Malcolm’s 
influence was again in the ascendant. 

Malcolm took him to Queen’s Gate and introduced him 
to his mother and Anna. He had previously acquainted 
his mother with the story of his unfortunate infatuation 
for Leah Jacobi. To his surprise she was deeply inter- 
ested, and begged to be allowed to tell Anna. 


375 


376 


HERB OF GRACE 


Anna cares so much more for unhappy people/’ she 
said. “ You will see how kind she will be to the poor 
fellow.” 

In her way Mrs. Herrick was kind too. Malcolm, who 
knew young men were seldom welcome at 27 Queen’s 
Gate, was secretly amazed at the graciousness with which 
Cedric was received. 

Mrs. Herrick’s stoicism was not proof against the 
lad’s handsome face and deep melancholy. Her manner 
softened and grew quite motherly; and as for Anna, 
Malcolm took her to task at last, when he found that 
Cedric was in the habit of going over to Queen’s Gate 
at all hours in the day. 

Anna thought Malcolm was serious, and flushed up in 
quite a distressed manner at his bantering tone. 

“ Mother asked him,” she said, defending herself quite 
anxiously. It is so dull for him at Cheyne Walk while 
you are in town, and so mother said he could come here 
to luncheon whenever he liked.” 

“ That was kind of her,” returned Malcolm ; “ but as 
for dulness, there is not a more jovial old fellow than 
Goliath of Gath. He and Verity would look after him 
right enough during my absence. Cedric used to be quite 
chummy with them when he was with me before.” 

“ Yes, I know, dear, but Mr. Templeton says things are 
so different this time. He likes the Kestons tremen- 
dously, but somehow he says he does not feel up to the 
studio life. I know what he means, Malcolm,” rather 
shyly — “ when one is unhappy one must choose one’s own 
companions.” 

And so Cedric prefers being here, and talking to you 
about his troubles.” Perhaps Malcolm’s tone was slightly 
mischievous, for Anna blushed violently. 

Oh, Malcolm, surely you understand,” she returned 
nervously. Don’t you see, Mr. Templeton knows we 
are sorry for him, and he is grateful for our sympathy, 


TANGLED THREADS 


377 


and he likes to come and talk to us. He made me feel 
quite bad yesterday. I could hardly sleep for thinking 
of all he went through, and thinking of the death of that 
poor Mr. Carlyon. He does seem so sorry for his sister, 
though he declares that he never thought him good 
enough for her. That is how people talk,” went on Anna, 
frowning thoughtfully over her words; “ they will judge 
by outward appearance, as though anything matters when 
two people love each other. Mr. Templeton has been talk- 
ing so much about his sister Elizabeth that he quite makes 
me long to see her, but all the same he seems to care most 
for his elder sister.” 

“ I believe he does,” returned Malcolm ; “ but then she 
has taken the place of a mother to him. Anna, dear, I 
was only in jest. I am really very grateful to you and my 
mother for making Cedric so happy and at home. I do 
quite understand, and I believe the society of two such 
good women will do much for him. Like the rest of us, 
he has found out that you are a friend born for adversity 
— a veritable daughter of consolation,” and Malcolm’s 
words made Anna very happy. 

When Cedric returned to Oxford for his last term, 
Malcolm paid his promised visit to the Wood House; 
but he only stayed two nights. The place was too full of 
painful associations. Elizabeth’s presence haunted every 
room, the emptiness and desolation of the house oppressed 
him like a nightmare, and though Dinah’s gentleness and 
tact made things more bearable during the day, at night 
he found himself unable to sleep; and Dinah, who read 
his weary look aright, forbore to press him to remain. 

It is not good for him to be here,” she said to herself ; 
“ he is so kind and unselfish that he will not spare himself, 
but I will not ask him to come again,” and Dinah kept her 
word. 

But they had much to discuss during those two days. 
There was now no longer any talk of the Civil Service 


3/8 


HERB OF GRACE 


Examination for Cedric. At the end of June he was 
to go abroad for six or eight months. A friend of Mal- 
colm’s, a young barrister, who had also been crossed in 
love — a sensible, straightforward fellow — was to accom- 
pany him. “ He is sure to like Dunlop,” Malcolm ob- 
served, as he and Dinah paced the terrace together in the 
sweet spring sunshine. Charlie is a good-hearted fel- 
low, and one of the best companions I know, though he 
is a bit down in the mouth just now, poor old chap.” 

I think you said the lady jilted him?” asked Dinah 
sympathetically. 

“ Yes, and he is well rid of her, if we could only get 
him to believe that. She was a handsome girl — I saw 
her once — but she came across an American millionaire, 
and sent Charlie about his business. Oh, he will get over 
it fast enough,” as Dinah looked quite sorrowful ; “ when 
a woman does that sort of thing, she just kills a man’s 
love. Of course he must suffer a bit — his pride is hurt 
as well as his heart — but in two or three years he will 
fall in love again, and will live happy ever after.” 

“ Oh, how I hope Cedric will care for some nice girl 
by-and-bye,” exclaimed Dinah earnestly; but Malcolm 
only smiled. 

“ You need have no doubt of that, my dear lady,” he 
returned ; “ but you must give him time to be off with the 
old love. That is why I am so anxious that he and Miss 
Jacobi should not meet. You tell me that she and Mrs. 
Richardson return to Sandy Hollow early in June?” 

Yes; Mrs. Godfrey told us that.” 

“ Then the sooner he is out of England the better. In 
London one is never sure of not coming across people.” 
And then he rapidly sketched out the details of the pro- 
posed trip, which was to include Germany, Switzerland, 
the Austrian Tyrol, the Italian Lakes, and probably 
Greece and Constantinople. Cedric had a great desire to 
visit the Crimea and the shores of the Bosphorus, and to 


TANGLED THREADS 


379 


see something of Eastern life. In all probability Christ- 
mas and the New Year would be spent in Cairo. “ We 
had better leave Dunlop to work out details,” continued 
Malcolm, “ as money or time seem no object. You may 
as well give them a long tether. Change of scene will do 
Cedric a world of good, and when he is tired of wander- 
ing he will settle down more happily. Very likely by that 
time he will have some idea of what he wants to do and 
Malcolm’s sound common-sense carried the day. 

Dinah spoke very little of her sister. She was well, 
she said in answer to Malcolm’s inquiries — Elizabeth was 
so strong that her health rarely suffered; but she was 
grieving sorely for David. “ Mr. Carlyon is better,” she 
continued. “ Elizabeth is the greatest comfort to him. 
She goes with him when he visits the sick, and sits beside 
him when he writes his sermons. Indeed, Theo says they 
are never apart. Theo is very much softened and subdued 
by her brother’s death,” went on Dinah. “ I think Eliza- 
beth’s influence and example will do good there. I believe 
that, with all her faults, Theo Carlyon is really a good- 
hearted woman.” 

Malcolm paid a flying visit to Oxford soon after he 
got back to town — somehow movement seemed necessary 
to him in those weary, restless days — and he took Mr. 
Dunlop with him, and had the satisfaction of seeing that 
Cedric appeared to like him at once. 

“ He does not seem to stand on tiptoe and look over a 
fellow’s head, don’t you know,” observed Cedric. '' He 
meets one on equal terms, though he is ten years older. 
He is a chip of your block, Herrick, and I expect he is a 
good fellow too” — and all this speech did Malcolm retail 
to Dinah in his next letter. 

Cedric spent three or four days at Cheyne Walk before 
he started for the Continent, and again most of his time 
was devoted to his friends at 27 Queen’s Gate. 

Malcolm was secretly glad that he was in such safe 


38 o 


HERB OF GRACE 


hands, for, as the time of Cedric’s departure drew near, 
he could not divest himself of an uneasy fear that all 
their precautions might be unavailing, and that, when 
they least expected it, he and Leah Jacobi would come 
face to face. He knew that she and her new friend Mrs. 
Richardson were now settled at Sandy Hollow for the 
summer, and that Mrs. Richardson came frequently to 
town for sight-seeing or shopping expeditions. 

Malcolm little knew what good reason he had for his 
fears. 

On Cedric’s last day in Cheyne Walk, Mrs. Herrick 
proposed that he should drive with her and Anna to Pall 
Mall to see some pictures that were being exhibited. She 
would leave them at the gallery for an hour, and call for 
them when she had done her shopping. Malcolm had 
promised to be there at the same time, and they would 
all go back together to Queen’s Gate for the remainder 
of the day. It so happened that Mrs. Richardson had 
planned one of her favourite shopping expeditions for 
the same day, and in the course of the afternoon the 
hansom she had chartered drew up at a shop exactly 
opposite the gallery, where at that very moment Anna, 
Cedric, and Malcolm were coming down the staircase to 
join Mrs. Herrick, who was waiting for them in her 
carriage. 

Leah, who had not recovered her normal strength since 
her attack of influenza, was excessively tried by all the 
noise and bustle of the West End, and begged to remain 
in the hansom while Mrs. Richardson finished her pur- 
chases. When Mrs. Richardson came out of the shop a 
quarter of an hour later, the handsome carriage with its 
pair of bay horses had driven off, and Leah was leaning 
back in the hansom looking white as death, with a pained, 
startled expression in her beautiful eyes. 

Mrs. Richardson told the man to drive to the station. 
Then she took the girl’s hand kindly. “ What is it, my 


TANGLED THREADS 


381 


dear ?” she said in a motherly voice. “ Are you ill, or has 
something frightened you ?” but it was long before Leah 
could gasp out her explanation. 

She had seen him, and he looked quite bright and 
happy, and he was talking to a fair haired-girl with a 
sweet face, and Mr. Herrick was with them;” but poor 
Leah could say no more, for the jealous pain seemed to 
choke her. That was the way he had smiled at her, and 
now she was forgotten, and this other girl had taken her 
place ! 

Mrs. Richardson, with all her eccentricities, had a 
warm, true heart, and she was very patient and tender 
with the poor girl. 

But late that night, as she sat in her dressing-room, 
there was a timid knock at her door, and Leah entered 
in her white wrapper, with all her glorious dark hair 
streaming over her shoulders ; but her eyes were swollen 
with weeping. 

“ I felt I must come and speak to you or I could not 
sleep!” she exclaimed in her deep voice; and kneeling 
down by her friend — “ Oh, I have been so wicked 1 but 
I will try to be good now.” 

“ Tell me all about it, dearie,” returned Mrs. Rich- 
ardson in her kind, comforting voice; and she drew 
the dark head to her shoulder, and a sort of wonder filled 
her eyes as she saw the glossy lengths of hair that swept 
the floor. 

To an onlooker Mrs. Richardson might have seemed a 
somewhat grotesque figure in her quilted magenta silk 
dressing-gown, with her gray fringe pinned up by her 
maid in little twists and rolls, but her honest eyes beamed 
with kindness and sympathy. 

Oh, I have been so wicked !” repeated Leah. “ All 
these months I have been praying that he might not suffer 
as I have been suffering, and that in time he might forget 
me and be happy; and yet, because my prayer has been 


382 


HERB OF GRACE 


answered, and that girl is helping him to forget, I felt 
as though I hated her and then she hid her face in the 
folds of the gaudy dressing-gown and shed tears of bitter 
shame and self-loathing. 

My dear, if you cry so you will make yourself ill,’^ 
observed Mrs. Richardson soothingly. “ You have been 
sorely tried, you poor child, but you are not wicked ; on 
the contrary, I think few girls have behaved so well. Do 
not call yourself names, dearie ; Mrs. Godfrey and I both 
think you good, and we mean to do our best to make you 
happy.” 

“ Yes, and I am so grateful to you both, you dear, dear 
friends,” and Leah raised her tear-stained face and kissed 
her with all the warmth of her loving nature. What was 
it to her that Mrs. Richardson was an odd-looking, eccen- 
tric old lady, whose curled gray fringe and gay attire 
scarcely harmonised with her homely, weather-beaten 
features ; to Leah her face was transfigured by the loveli- 
ness of a kind and tender nature. “ I think I saw her as 
the angels did,” she said long years afterwards to one 
who had served for her as Jacob did for his beloved 
Rachel ; “ for I loved every line of her dear homely face. 
Oh, how she mothered me, who had never known mother 
love, and how good and patient she was with me in my 
bad times ! If God had not taken her, I could never have 
left her — never !” For when Mrs. Richardson died some 
years later, her hand was locked in that of her adopted 
daughter. 

Leah drooped for some time after this encounter. 
Then, as the summer went on, she recovered her spirits 
gradually ; new duties and interests demanded her atten- 
tion, and in the wholesome and active life led by the mis- 
tress of Sandy Hollow she found plenty to distract her 
sad thoughts. 

Mrs. Richardson was a great gardener, and on warm 
days she spent most of her time in the open air; they 


TANGLED THREADS 383 

breakfasted under a spreading chestnut, and often dined 
in foreign fashion on the terrace facing the sunset. 

When Malcolm went down to the Manor House in 
August before he started for Norway, he walked across 
to Sandy Hollow with Mrs. Godfrey. They found Mrs. 
Richardson sitting in a shady retreat, with all her various 
pets round her. Leah was gathering flowers in the lower 
garden, she said. She received Malcolm very kindly, for 
he was one of her favourites, and talked to him a great 
deal about the girl — of her sweet temper, her docility, and 
her patience. 

“ She has heard nothing of that wretched brother of 
hers,” she continued. Then Malcolm shrugged his 
shoulders; he could give her information on that subject, 
he said drily — at least a score of begging letters had 
reached him and Cedric from New York, and had been 
consigned to the flames. Saul Jacobi was evidently play- 
ing his old tricks and living on his wits ; he was utterly 
irredeemable. Hugh Rossiter always prophesied that he 
would never die in his bed ; and this prediction was un- 
fortunately verified some three years later, when, in a 
drunken brawl, a tipsy sailor lurched up against him one 
dark night and pushed him over the quay. No one heard 
his cry for help for the oaths and curses that were filling 
the air; neither was his body found until the next day. 
Strange to say, it was Hugh Rossiter who identified it; 
and it was he who later on brought Leah a pathetic little 
proof that Saul had not wholly forgotten his sister. 

In the pocket of his shabby old coat — how shabby and 
how ragged it was Hugh never ventured to tell her — there 
was a cheap little photo of Leah, taken when she was 
eighteen, and in the first bloom of her young beauty ; and 
on the soiled envelope was written, “ My little sister 
Leah,” and the date of her birth. For no nature is wholly 
evil and irreclaimable, and perhaps, in spite of his tyranny 
and cruel tempers, there was a spark of affection in the 


384 


HERB OF GRACE 


man’s heart for the young sister dependent on him. Leah 
always believed this, and she wept the saddest, tenderest 
tears over the little photo. My poor Saul,” she said, 
“ his nature was strangely warped, and he did not know 
how to speak the truth, and he could be hard and cruel — 
as I know to my cost — but there were times when he was 
very good to me;” and so even Saul Jacobi had one 
human being to mourn for him. 


CHAPTER XXXIX 


THE NEW CURATE-IN-CHARGE 

While I? I sat alone and watched; 

My lot in life, to live alone 
In my own world of interests, 

Much felt but little shown. 

Yet sometimes, when I feel my strength 
Most weak, and life most burdensome, 

I lift mine eyes up to the hills, 

From whence my help shall come. 

Christina Rossetti. 

Malcolm sat for some time talking to the two ladies ; 
then he made an excuse and set off in search of Leah. 
He was well acquainted with the grounds of Sandy Hol- 
low, and could have found his way blindfolded to the 
lower garden. 

It was a quaint old plaisance shut in with high walls, 
which were covered with fruit trees, where downy 
peaches, and nectarines, and golden apricots, and big yel- 
low plums nestled their sun-kissed cheeks against the 
warm red bricks. In the oddly-shaped beds all manner 
of sweet growing things seemed to jostle each other — n.ot 
forming stately rows, or ordered phalanx, or even gay- 
patterned borders after the fashion of modern flower- 
beds, but growing together in the loveliest confusion — 
peonies and nasturtiums, sweet-peas and salvias; and 
everywhere crowds of roses — over arches, climbing up 
walls, hanging in festoons over the gateway, long rows 
of Standards guarding the path like an army of beauteous 
Amazons; while all day long the heavy brown bees 
hummed round them, and filled their honey-bags with 
rifled sweets. 


25 


385 


386 


HERB OF GRACE 


There was a small green bench placed invitingly in a 
shady corner, where Leah had seated herself to rest after 
her labours. Malcolm thought that her figure gave the 
finishing touch to the picture. She wore a white dress 
and a large shady hat, and a basket of Marshal Niel roses 
was in her lap ; but when she caught sight of the visitor 
she rose so hastily that the basket was upset and the 
roses strewed the ground at her feet. Malcolm felt con- 
cerned when he saw how pale she had grown, and how 
she was trembling from head to foot, but he thought it 
better to take no notice and to give her time to recover 
herself. 

Have I startled you ?” he said lightly. “ Let me pick 
up your roses for you. May I have this bud for myself ?” 
showing her his spoil. Then, when the basket was full 
again, he sat down beside her; but it was Leah who 
broke the silence. She had not regained her colour, and 
her voice still trembled a little. 

‘‘ I did not know you were in the neighbourho.od,” she 
faltered, “ and it startled me so to see you at the gate. 
I have not been strong since the influenza, and even a 
little thing like that brings on palpitation ; but you must 
not think that I am not glad to see you.” 

Thank you,” returned Malcolm in a pleasant, friendly 
v.oice. I only arrived at the Manor House last evening-, 
so you see I have lost no time in coming over to Sandy 
Hollow. I wanted to see for myself how you were. You 
are rather too thin and unsubstantial-looking, Miss 
Jacobi ;” but all the time he was saying to himself that 
he had never seen her look more lovely. 

What does it matter how one looks ?” she returned 
indifferently. “You are thinner too, Mr. Herrick; but 
then you work so hard. Do you know” — and here her 
voice changed — “ that I saw you a few weeks ago. You 
did not see me, and I could not speak; you were with 
some friends.” Leah's manner was so significant and 


THE NEW CURATE-IN-CHARGE 387 


pregnant with meaning that Malcolm gazed at her in- 
quiringly. 

‘‘ I do not remember ; I have so many friends,” he 
observed in a puzzled tone. 

“ You had been to see those French pictures in the 
new gallery,” she returned, “ and a lady was waiting for 
you in her carriage.” Then a sudden light broke in upon 
Malcolm. 

It must have been my mother !” he exclaimed, and 
then he stopped a little awkwardly, for of course he re- 
membered now ; but she finished his sentence quite 
calmly. 

“Yes, he was there — Mr. Templeton, I mean; he was 
talking to a girl with fair hair, and with such a nice face 
— ^not pretty, but sweet and good ; and they were laughing 
together. I could hear him laugh quite distinctly — my 
hansom was so close.” 

“ Good heavens ! what an escape,” Malcolm said to 
himself inwardly; “it was a near thing.” Then aloud, 
“ That was Anna Sheldon, my adopted sister ; she is the 
dearest girl in the world; but you are right, she is not 
really pretty.” 

“ They seemed very happy,” returned Leah, but her 
voice was full of wistful pain. 

Malcolm, who was a fellow-sufferer, understood in a 
moment what she was feeling, and his kind heart 
prompted the remedy. 

“ Cedric has been a great deal with them lately,” he 
said quietly ; “ my mother and Anna know all about his 
trouble; and they are very kind to him. It is good for 
him to be with friends who can make allowances for him, 
and help him.” 

“ But he seemed happy,” persisted the poor girl ; “ and 
— and — Miss Sheldon will soon make him forget things.” 
But Malcolm shook his head. 

“ I am afraid not,” he returned rather sadly ; “ Cedric 


388 


HERB OF GRACE 


is by no means happy, though we all do our best to make 
him so. He has had a great shock, Miss Jacobi, and in 
spite of his youth he has suffered much. I wish I could 
tell you truthfully that he has forgotten you, but it would 
be a useless falsehood. We can only hope that time and 
change will be beneficial and then, in the kindest man- 
ner, he sketched the outline of Cedric’s projected travels, 
and gave her a full description of his travelling com- 
panion. 

Malcolm’s confidence was not thrown away; before 
many minutes were over Leah’s wan face brightened a 
little, and her eyes lost their strained look. 

Thank you — thank you so much, Mr. Herrick,” she 
said gratefully, when he had finished ; “ no one has told 
me anything about him, and it does me good to know. 
And now will you do me a favour” — turning to him — 
“ when you write next to Mr. Templeton, will you give 
him a message from me ?” 

“ May I know the message first ?” replied Malcolm 
cautiously. Then she smiled a little sadly. 

“ Ah, you do not trust me. Well, I cannot wonder at 
that. But my message will not hurt him ; indeed, I think 
it may do him good. I want you to tell him that I have 
been ill, but I am getting well and strong now, and that 
I am with a dear friend who mothers and takes care of me, 
and whom I love better every day ; and that I am content 
and at peace. Tell him that I never forget to pray for 
him, and that my one prayer and wish is for his happi- 
ness; that I entreat him with all my heart not to let his 
disappointment shadow his life ; that if he can forget me, 
it would be wiser and better to do so ; but if he remem- 
bers, let him think of me as though I were dead, and 
already praying for him in paradise. Will you tell him 
this?” 

Malcolm was silent for a moment, then he bowed his 


THE NEW CURATE-IN-CHARGE 389 


head, and Leah saw him pencil the message rapidly in his 
note-book. 

“ He shall have it — not a word shall be missed,” he 
said briefly. Then he saw the tears of gratitude in her 
eyes. 

“ It will make him happier to know I am content,” she 
whispered ; “ Cedric has such a kind heart.” 

“ You are right — I think that message will do him 
good,” agreed Malcolm. And then Leah lifted her basket 
and they walked back to the others. 

It was during this visit to the Manor House that, in an 
unguarded moment, Malcolm’s jealously-kept secret was 
betrayed to Mrs. Godfrey’s sharp eyes, though Malcolm 
never guessed the fact then or afterwards. 

They had been having tea in the alcove as usual, and 
the Colonel had just gone to the stables to give an order 
for the next day. Malcolm had made some humorous 
speech or other about his wonderful agility for a man of 
his age, when Mrs. Godfrey remarked innocently — 

“ How strange that you should say that, Mr. Herrick ! 
It is just word for word what Elizabeth said when she 
was last here. I never saw two people think so alike;” 
and here Mrs. Godfrey laughed quite merrily, for once 
before she had accused Malcolm of making Elizabethan 
speeches. But her laugh died away when she saw Mal- 
colm’s face. It was too sudden, and he was not prepared ; 
but the next moment he was hanging over the parapet 
trying to catch a peacock butterfly, and was actually join- 
ing in the laugh. 

That reminds me of a funny story,” he said, speaking 
rather rapidly, “ of two fellows who coined each other’s 
ideas and got rather mixed sometimes;” and he told her 
the story from beginning to end with his old vivacity, and 
when he had finished it he went off in search of the 
Colonel. 

But Mrs. Godfrey looked thoughtfully at the distant 


390 HERB OF GRACE 

prospect until Malcolm’s footsteps were no longer audi- 
ble. 

“ I feel like a burglar,” she said to herself — “ as though 
I had picked a lock and stolen something. I, to call my- 
self a clever woman and never to guess it! But he has 
been too deep for me. He is very strong; one might as 
well try to open an oyster with one’s nails as to find out 
anything Malcolm Herrick wishes to hide.” 

Mrs. Godfrey’s face grew more troubled. ‘‘ His mouth 
was like iron,” she whispered, “ but his face was so white 
in the sunshine. Poor fellow — poor fellow,” in quite a 
caressing tone. “ But you will be safe with me — even 
Alick shall not know. I wonder if he guesses anything ; 
he only said yesterday that Mr. Herrick was different 
somehow. Ah, Elizabeth,” she went on, pacing the 
terrace restlessly, even wise women like you and me 
make mistakes sometimes. Yes, yes, you have made a 
great mistake, my dear;” and then she went into the 
house to get ready for her walk. 

Malcolm went to Norway, and wondered why he did 
not enjoy himself more. He had congenial companions, 
good sport, and the weather was distinctly favourable, 
but he could not get rid of his trouble. Wherever he 
went, in sunlight or moonlight, the shadowy presence of 
the woman he loved so passionately walked beside him. 
On the shores of the lonely fiord or in the pine forests, 
Elizabeth’s bright, speaking face seemed to move before 
him like a will o’ the wisp ; even in the rustle of the sum- 
mer breeze in the leaves he could hear her voice, with its 
odd breaks and sibilant pauses, so curiously sweet to his 
ear. “ I am possessed,” he would say to himself — I am 
possessed!” and indeed with all his strength of will he 
was powerless to resist that influence. 

Dinah still wrote to him from time to time. The Wood 
House was empty, she told him ; they had taken a house 
at Ullswater for three months. Mr. Carlyon and Theo 


THE NEW CURATE-IN-CHARGE 391 


were to be their guests. Mr. Carlyon is very far from 
well/’ she wrote, “ and his doctor has ordered complete 
rest for some months ; and we think Elizabeth needs rest 
and change too, so altogether it is an excellent plan.” 

The Ullswater scheme seemed to work well. Dinah 
told Malcolm that Mr. Carlyon and Elizabeth were out 
together most of the day — fishing, boating, or roaming 
over the country in search of ferns and wild-flowers. 

The life just suits Elizabeth,” she went on; “ she likes 
the quiet and freedom. And then she and Mr. Carlyon do 
each other so much good. He was so weak after the 
funeral that it is my private opinion that but for Eliza- 
beth’s care and devotion he would soon have followed 
David. I know he thinks so himself. ^ Father has two 
daughters now,’ Theo often says, ‘ but Elizabeth suits him 
best.’ She says it quite amiably. Theo and I keep each 
other company. Her favourite amusement seems visiting 
the cottages and talking to the women and children ; they 
get quite fond of ' the red-headed lady,’ as they call her. 
But in the evening we are all together, and then Mr. 
Carlyon or Elizabeth reads aloud.” 

Malcolm was hard at work in his chambers long before 
the sisters returned to the Wood House. His book had 
proved a great success, and the leading papers had re- 
viewed it most favourably. He had now commenced 
fresh work, and spent all his leisure hours at his desk. 
When Amias Keston complained that the studio evenings 
were things of the past, Malcolm looked at him a little 
sadly. I can’t help it, old fellow,” he said gravely ; 

my social qualities are a bit rusty, but I will behave 
better by and bye;” and then he nodded to Verity, and 
went back to his papers and wrote on grimly, as though 
some unseen taskmaster were behind him, ready to 
scourge him on if he loitered. 

“ My work saved me — I had nothing else to live for,” 
he said long afterwards; ''nothing else fully occupied 


392 


HERB OF GRACE 


my thoughts and made me forget my trouble. When I 
was turning out copy I was almost happy. I was not 
Malcolm Herrick : I was the heir of all the ages entering 
into my kingdom.” 

“ Yes, I know what you mean,” replied the friend to 
whom he had said this : “ the children were strewing 
flowers, and there were timbrels and harps, and they had 
crowned you with laurel leaves, as though you were a 
conquering hero.” 

“ Something of that sort,” he returned laughing. “ But 
you must not make fun of my sweet mistress from Par- 
nassus; it kept me sane and cool to woo my reluctant 
Muse. At times she frowned, and then I set my teeth 
hard and worked like a navvy ; but when she smiled my 
pen seemed to fly in the sunlight, and I was warm and 
happy.” 

Malcolm sent a copy of his book to Dinah, and she was 
not long in acknowledging it. “We have both read it, 
and think it beautiful,” she wrote. “ I tried to read it 
aloud to Elizabeth, but I got so choky over it, and stopped 
so often, that she grew impatient at last and carried off 
the book to finish it in her own room. She wants me to 
tell you how much she likes it. She has sent a copy to 
Mr. Carlyon. Now I am going to tell you a piece of 
news that will rather surprise you, but Elizabeth did not 
wish me to drop a hint until things were definitely settled. 

“ Mr. Carlyon has resigned his living. The doctor has 
told him plainly that another winter at Stokeley will be 
too great a risk: the place is very bleak and cold, and 
the work far too hard. The Bishop is going to put in a 
younger man. 

“ Mr. Carlyon is actually coming to Rotherwood, and 
is to take David’s place” — Malcolm started and frowned 
when he came to this.” You will be surprised, of course 
— every one is — but it is really a most excellent arrange- 
ment. 


THE NEW CURATE-IN-CHARGE 393 


“ You see, Mr. Charrington’s health is not good, and 
as he will have to winter abroad, he really requires a 
curate-in-charge who will be responsible for the parish. 
The salary will be very little less than the income of 
Stokeley; there is no house, but we have got over this 
difficulty. Do you remember that low gray house, with 
the rowan tree over the gate, just by Elizabeth’s Home 
of Rest, where little Kit died ? It is scarcely more than a 
cottage, but it is very cosy and comfortable, and quite 
large enough for Theo and her father. There are two 
sitting-rooms — the larger one is to be Mr. Carlyon’s 
study, they will not need a drawing-room — and four bed- 
rooms, and the garden is really charming. Rowan Cot- 
tage belongs to us, so we can ask a nominal rent. I can- 
not tell you how happy all this makes Elizabeth. Mr. 
Carlyon has been her one thought since David died. She 
feels it such a privilege to watch over him and attend to 
his little comforts. She is at work now at the cottage, 
getting everything ready for them, for they are expected 
in about a fortnight’s time. But what a volume I am 
writing, my dear friend, and as usual about our own 
affairs. By the bye, I have never given you Elizabeth’s 
message. She says that now you have become a cele- 
brated author, she hopes you will not forget your old 
friends at the Wood House. Of course, this was only one 
of her joking speeches; she makes her little jokes now 
and then. What she really means is that you have not 
been to see us for a long time, and that when you come 
you will be welcome.” 

Malcolm read this letter at least a dozen times, and 
each time he came to the message he smiled as though he 
were well pleased; nevertheless he made no attempt to 
go to Staplegrove. 

With the exception of that half-hour in the church- 
yard, he had not seen Elizabeth since her trouble — an 
instinctive feeling of delicacy had warned him to keep his 


394 


HERB OF GRACE 


distance. Nearly eight months had passed, but he was 
still unwilling to force himself upon her, and the present 
moment seemed to him peculiarly unpropitious. Eliza- 
beth’s thoughts would be occupied with the preparations 
at the cottage. He knew her so well : she never did 
things by halves, and she would be at Rotherwood all 
day long. No, he would not go yet, he said to himself ; 
it would be time enough when Cedric came back, and then 
he would go down to the Wood House as a matter of 
course. It cost Malcolm some effort to keep this resolu- 
tion when Cedric deferred his return week after week. 
When the New Year opened he was at Cairo, and having 
a rattling good time,” as he expressed it. It was not 
until the end of March that he and Mr. Dunlpp turned 
their faces homeward; but Malcolm made his work an 
excuse and held grimly to his post. 


CHAPTER XL 

“ HE IS MY RIVAL STILL” 

Fire that’s closest kept burns most of all. 

Ay, so true love should do : it cannot speak ; 

For truth hath better deeds than words to grace it. 

Shakespeare. 

Love is patient and content with anything, so it be together 
with its beloved. — ^Jeremy Taylor. 

It was on a bright sunshiny April afternoon that Mal- 
colm at last paid his long-deferred visit to Staplegrove. 
Cedric had been at home for nearly a week then, but he 
and Malcolm had already met. Cedric had spent a night 
at Cheyne Walk before going down to the Wood House, 
and had extracted from his friend a reluctant promise 
that he would come down as early in the week as possible. 
Malcolm's assurance that he could only spare two nights 
was treated by the young matron with incredulity. 

Look here, Herrick,” he returned in a lordly manner, 
it is no good putting on side with me. You may be a 
brilliant essayist, as that fellow called you, and a tiptop 
literary swell, but you are not going to chuck up old 
friends in this fashion. You are going to pay us a decent 
visit, or your humble servant will kick up no end of a 
shindy.” But to all this Malcolm turned a deaf ear. He 
repeated gravely that his engagements would only allow 
him to sleep two nights at the Wood House ; and as Mal- 
colm had made the engagements himself for the express 
purpose of shortening his visit, he probably knew best. 

Cedric grumbled a good deal, and used some strong 
language, but he quieted down after a time, and they went 
on with their conversation ; for Cedric had a plan in his 
head, and he wanted his friend's advice and co-operation. 

395 


396 


HERB OF GRACE 


As Malcolm listened, he wondered what Dinah would 
think of her boy. Cedric looked at least two or three 
years older ; he was broader, stronger, and Malcolm even 
fancied he had gained an inch in height ; he was certainly 
a magnificent specimen of an athletic young Englishman. 

He had always been handsome, but in Malcolm’s 
opinion he had never appeared to greater advantage than 
now. His skin was slightly tanned by sun and wind, 
and his hair had darkened a little ; he had lost the expres- 
sion of weak irresolution which had marred his face, and 
he had evidently grown in manliness and self-restraint. 
His manner was still boyish at times, and Malcolm was 
glad to hear the old ringing laugh. Cedric’s wound had 
been deep, but it was not incurable — time and change of 
scene had been potent factors in the cure. Malcolm 
listened with a great deal of interest to the scheme that 
Cedric intended to lay before his sisters. 

It appeared that in the Bavarian highlands he had 
stumbled across an old school-fellow, Harry Strickland. 

“We were chums at Haileybury,” went on Cedric. 
“ Harry was always a good sort ; but his people sent him 
to Cambridge, so I lost sight of him. I knew his father 
was dead and that an uncle had offered him a home — his 
mother had died when he was quite a little chap, and he 
had no brothers or sisters — ^but when we met in the inn 
that wet night — when Dunlop and I were nearly drowned 
getting down from the Alp — he told me that a fit of 
gout had carried off his uncle quite unexpectedly.” 

“ Poor chap, he seems a bit lonely,” observed Malcolm 
sympathetically. 

“ Yes, he was mooning about, and rather bothered 
what to do next. So he was delighted at the idea of 
joining some of our excursions. But I will keep all that 
for the Wood House, for we had no end of adventures — 
the dare-devil Englishmen as they called us. But never 
mind that, I must hurry on. 


‘‘HE IS MY RIVAL STILL’^ 


397 


“ Harry is his uncle’s heir — not that that amounts to 
much — but he has come into possession of a fine old farm 
that has been in the family for a hundred years at least, 
with plenty of good land, but, alas! little capital. The 
facts of the case are these, Herrick. Roger Strickland 
was not a rich man, and for want of a little ready money 
the farm has deteriorated in value. There is plenty to 
be got out of the land if only more could be spent on it ; 
they want a new barn and some outhouses, and some of 
the fencing is disgraceful. As for the Priory itself — it 
is the Priory farm, you know — it is an old ramshackle 
place and in sore need of repair; some of the floors are 
rotten, and there are holes and crannies, and the mice 
and rats hold high revel in the disused rooms.” 

“ My dear fellow, your description is not alluring,” re- 
marked Malcolm, wondering what all this meant. 

“ Oh, I am telling you the worst ; it really is a lovely 
old place. Only Harry declares he would not live there 
alone for anything; it is supposed to be haunted by a 
certain evil-minded Strickland, in a green velvet suit and 

a powdered periwig, who drags one leg but I will 

tell you the story another time; it will make your hair 
stand on end. Now Harry’s difficulty is this : he has so 
little capital that he is half afraid of taking up the farm 
himself, and yet it is the only life he cares about; and 
he wants to find some one, with money to spare, who 
would join him in working the concern” — and here Cedric 
stopped and looked significantly at Malcolm. 

“ Ah, I understand now,” returned his friend ; “ it is 
to be a sort of partnership. And so you think you would 
like to take to farming — eh, Cedric?” 

“ Like it,” returned Cedric, colouring with excitement, 
“ it is the very life I should choose. It would be just 
splendid for Harry and me to work together! Oh, I 
know what you are going to say” — as Malcolm opened 
his lips — “ but wait a moment and let me finish first. Of 


HERB OF GRACE 


398 

course I know nothing of farming, and Harry knows 
precious little either; but he has a good bailiff whom he 
can trust, and whose wife manages the dairy. What I 
am going to propose is this, that Harry and I should go 
to the Agricultural College at Cirencester for a few 
months and get an idea of the business; and then, if 
Dinah would start me with a good round sum we could 
begin to get the place in order. I have set my heart on it, 
Herrick,” and here Cedric’s voice was very persuasive, 
“and I want you to come down and talk it out with her, 
like the good fellow you are.” 

“ I will come, of course,” returned Malcolm slowlv, 
“ and on the whole I am inclined to approve of your plan ; 
but I do not think we can decide anything in this off- 
hand way. I think the best thing would be for us to 
reconnoitre the place, and perhaps Mr. Strickland could 
accompany us. The bailiff could give us full particulars, 
and we might consult Mr. Strickland’s lawyer if we are 
in any difficulty.” 

And Cedric made no objection to this arrangement. 
They would go into the thing properly, of course, and 
there was no need to hurry matters; he only stipulated 
that Malcolm should come down and talk to Dinah with- 
out delay. This Malcolm had already promised ; and when 
Cedric went to bed he felt assured that Malcolm’s interest 
and sympathy were fully enlisted on his behalf. 

“ It is a foregone conclusion as far as Dinah is con- 
cerned,” he thought, as he laid his head on his pillow. 
“ Herrick can make her believe anything he likes, she 
has such faith in him; he has only to say that it is a 
capital plan, and that I shall make a first-rate farmer, and 
she will be ready to take out her cheque-book at once.” 

Cedric went round to 27 Queen’s Gate to pay his re- 
spects to the ladies before he started for Staplegrove. 
Malcolm, who dined there that night, was amused by his 
mother’s openly-avowed admiration of their young friend. 


‘‘HE IS MY RIVAL STILL’’ 


399 


“ Cedric Templeton is one of the most attractive-look- 
ing men I have ever seen,” she said in her most serious 
voice ; “ he is very much improved in every way, and is 
altogether charming.” 

“ I hope you agree with my mother, Anna ?” observed 
Malcolm, laughing. “ I think Cedric’s ears must be burn- 
ing at the present moment.” But Anna only returned 
rather shyly that she thought Mr. Templeton looked ex- 
tremely well. 

Malcolm had fixed his day, but he refused to state 
any hour for his arrival. There was no need to send the 
dog-cart for him ; he would prefer taking a fly from the 
station. Of course, he put forth business as his plea ; but 
in reality he did not wish Cedric to meet him, the lad’s 
incessant chatter all the way to Staplegrove would have 
worried him excessively. It was just a year since he had 
seen Elizabeth, and in his heart he was secretly dreading 
that first meeting. Perhaps he had left it too long, he 
ought to have gone sooner ; they would be like strangers, 
and the first interview would be very embarrassing to 
them both. Yes, he had been a fool to spare himself the 
pain of seeing her grief. He had kept away, banishing 
himself for all these months, and yet what good had it 
done him ? it had only increased his nervousness and dis- 
comfort tenfold. He was haunted by the fear that he 
should find her changed, that she would be cold and 
distant with him. He worked himself up into such a 
fever at last, that half-way up the Staplegrove Hill he 
stopped the fly and told the driver that he wished to walk, 
and directed him to take his bag to the Wood House. 

The walk certainly refreshed him, and by the time he 
reached the Crow’s Nest he felt more ready for the ordeal. 
When he came to the gate that led to the Wood House, 
he hesitated, and then crossed the road and stood for a 
few moments looking down the little woodland path he 
remembered so well. No other place was so associated 


400 


HERB OF GRACE 


with Elizabeth. How often he had met her at this little 
gate, or waited for her when he knew she was coming 
back from Rotherwood ! That day, for example, when 
she wore her white sun-bonnet, and came along swinging 
her arms like an imperial milkmaid, a “ very queen of 
curds and cream.” At that moment a little sharp clang 
of a distant gate made his heart beat suddenly. There 
were footsteps — yes, without doubt, there were footsteps 
— it was no fancy. Then at the bend of the road he could 
see distinctly a tall black figure, walking rather slowly 
and wearily along, and though he could not see her face 
he knew it was Elizabeth. 

The next minute he unlatched the gate a little noisily ; 
he would not steal a march on her — she believed herself 
alone; then she looked up and quickened her pace, and 
when he came up to her, there was actually a smile on her 
face. 

You are fond of surprises,” she said, looking at him 
as she gave him her hand. “ Am I late, have you come 
to meet me; and what have you done with your lug- 
gage?” 

I have sent it on,” he returned quietly ; it is such a 
lovely afternoon that I preferred to walk. No, I did not 
come to meet you ; for all I knew, you might have been 
at the Wood House. I only had a fancy that I should like 
to see the woodlands again, and then I saw you coming.” 

It is not my usual afternoon for Rotherwood,” she 
returned quickly, but a faint colour had come in her face 
at his words ; “ but I am there most days. You know, 
of course — Dinah will have told you — of the new interest 
I have there. I think Die tells you most things,” she 
continued, with the same glimmer of a smile on her lips. 

Yes, she is very good,” he returned gravely. They 
were walking side by side now. Malcolm had hardly 
trusted himself to look at her, and yet nothing had been 
lost on him. How changed she was! that was his first 


401 


“HE IS MY RIVAL STILL’^ 

thought. She looked years older; mourning did not 
suit her; the black hat with its heavy -trimming seemed to 
extinguish her somehow. She was paler and thinner, he 
was sure of that, and had lost some of her splendid 
vitality; and yet in spite of all this it was to him the 
dearest face in the world. 

As she made that poor little attempt at a smile, his 
whole heart went out to her in profound love and pity, 
and he forgot his own pain in remembering her trouble. 

“ Your sister told me about Mr. Carlyon,” he said, as 
they crossed the road ; “ I was very glad to hear from 
her how well it answered.” 

“ He is very happy at Rotherwood,” returned Eliza- 
beth. “ The people seem to take to him, and he and the 
vicar are like brothers, and the work exactly suits him. 
Theo is happy too, and that is a great blessing. And 
we have made the cottage so pretty that I should like you 
to see it.” Elizabeth’s manner had become more natural ; 
she spoke now as though she were sure of Malcolm’s in- 
terest. He did not disappoint her. 

“ I shall certainly call there when I go to the vicarage,” 
he returned, and then he stopped as though to take breath. 
“ I was very glad when I read your sister’s letter, and 
knew that this new work was to come to you ; it must 
make you so much happier.” 

Malcolm’s words were almost magical in their effect, 
for Elizabeth turned to him with her old eagerness. 

“ Oh, you always understand,” she said gratefully ; 
“ that is why it is so easy to talk to you. Yes, indeed, it 
has made me so much happier. Life is worth living when 
one knows there is some one in the world who is de- 
pendent on one for earthly comfort. Of course Mr. Carl- 
yon has Theo, but she does not know him as I do. I am 
at the cottage nearly every day.” 

Malcolm listened and smiled, but he could not have 
spoken at that moment. How little she guessed how her 

26 


402 


HERB OF GRACE 


words stabbed him! She could tell him to his face that 
life was worth living because there was some one de- 
pendent on her for earthly comfort,” and yet she could 
leave him hungering and thirsting in that sad pilgrimage 
of his. All her thoughts and sweet ministries were for 
David’s father. “ It is for him,” he thought bitterly ; 
“ he is my rival still — dead as well as living. She is very 
faithful : she will not forget him, and her heart is still 
closed to me.” 

Elizabeth did not seem to notice his silence ; she talked 
on about Mr. Charrington, and the new schools ; and then 
Cedric came flying down the path to meet them, and the 
next moment Malcolm saw Dinah smiling in the porch. 

After dinner that evening they gathered round the fire, 
for the nights were still chilly, and Elizabeth joined the 
circle to hear Cedric’s scheme discussed. 

From his dark corner Malcolm watched her. In spite 
of her unrelieved black and absence of ornaments, she 
was looking more like the old Elizabeth. She grew inter- 
ested and then quite absorbed in Cedric’s project, and 
soon began discussing it with her wonted vivacity. When 
Malcolm made some damping remark, she argued the 
point with him in a most peremptory fashion, and was 
quite Elizabethan in her rebuke. 

That is the worst of talking to a lawyer,” she said 
severely : “ his legal mind takes such cut-and-dried views. 
Granted that it is a speculation, it seems a promising one ; 
and nothing venture, nothing have. I don’t knoAV how 
you feel. Die, but I am quite willing to do my share.” 
Then Dinah, who was in quite a flutter of excitement and 
pleasure, looked at her adviser in a timid, deprecating 
fashion. 

“ If Mr. Herrick thinks we are not imprudent, I should 
like to do as Cedric wishes,” she replied ; though there 
is no need to touch your money, Betty.” But Elizabeth 
took no notice of this remark. 


“HE IS MY RIVAL STILE 


403 


“ I have a proposal to make,” she went on in such an 
animated voice that Malcolm quite started. “ Why should 
we not all go down and see the place? And Mr. Strick- 
land could come too. Donnarton is only three hours from 
town ; it would be a sort of picnic excursion, and I know 
Dinah would like it.” 

“ Bravo, Betty, what a brick you are !” exclaimed Ced- 
ric boisterously; and Malcolm observed in a low voice 
that it was an excellent idea. 

But when they talked it over quietly they found an 
amendment was necessary. It would be impossible to go 
and return the same day ; there was the farm to inspect, 
and most likely they would have to consult the lawyer. 
The matter ended by Cedric volunteering to go back with 
Malcolm when he returned to town, and talk the matter 
over with Harry Strickland ; and if any decent lodgings 
could be found in the little town of Donnarton, they would 
stop at least one night. 

As early a day as possible was to be fixed, and all the 
arrangements were to be made by the gentlemen. Dinah 
was evidently charmed with the prospect of seeing the 
Priory; but Elizabeth’s ardour quickly cooled when she 
found it would be necessary to remain the night. “ I 
suppose you could not go without me. Die ?” she observed 
when alone with her sister. Then Dinah’s face fell. 

“ Oh, Betty dear, that would spoil everything,” she said 
in a distressed tone. “ Surely you want to see dear Ced- 
ric’s future home.” 

“ Of course I want to see it,” returned Elizabeth rather 
shortly ; “ only I should have preferred going down 
quietly a little later on” — which was somewhat contra- 
dictory, as she had herself proposed the plan. But per- 
haps the delighted look on Malcolm’s face when he heard 
her proposition had somewhat alarmed her ; for the next 
day she was a little cool and distant in her manner to him, 
and left his entertainment to Dinah and Cedric. 


CHAPTER XLI 


‘‘you can be Dinah’s friend” 

Sometimes I said : This thing shall be no more ; 

My expectation wearies and shall cease; 

I will resign it now and be at peace : 

Yet never gave it o’er. 

Christina Rossetti. 

Various complications prevented the Templeton — 
Strickland picnic, as Cedric termed it, from being- 
speedily carried out, and it was not until the middle of 
May that a day was definitely fixed, and Cedric brought 
his sisters up to Waterloo, where Malcolm and Mr. 
Strickland met them. The whole party were to be housed 
at the Priory, where they were to sleep two nights. 
There were plenty of good bedrooms, Harry Strickland 
told them, and in a rough, homely fashion he could un- 
dertake that they should be comfortable. He had already 
been down to the Priory to look after things, and to tell 
Mrs. Renshaw that she must find some temporary help. 
He would have brought down a hamper of delicacies from 
Fortnum and Mason, but Cedric remonstrated with him 
and said his sisters would much prefer simple country 
fare. And then Harry gave orders to his bailiff that the 
plumpest chickens and the fattest ducks were to be sacri- 
ficed, and new laid-eggs and cream served ad libitum. 

Malcolm always looked back on those two days as the 
saddest and yet the most beautiful he had ever known. 
For what sadness can be equal to that of being with the 
person one loves best in the world, and yet being con- 
scious of a great dividing gulf, that never narrows ; and 
yet in spite of this, what happiness to know that one roof 
404 


“YOU CAN BE DINAH’S FRIEND” 405 


would cover them for two days! Malcolm was in that 
condition when he was thankful for even fragments and 
crumbs — a kind smile, an approving word from Elizabeth 
made his heart beat more quickly. As for Dinah, she 
was in the seventh heaven. The country was lovely, the 
Priory a beautiful, picturesque old place, with leaded 
casements and a deep porch, and a wonderful neglected 
garden, a veritable wilderness of sweets. She liked 
everything, admired everything ; she thought Harry 
Strickland a thoroughly nice fellow; and she and Eliza- 
beth wandered all over the house, suggesting improve- 
ments in their practicable, sensible way; and full of ad- 
miration for the fine oak staircase and some really beauti- 
ful cabinets, and benches, on the landing-place and in the 
best parlours. Roger Strickland had always called them 
parlours — the oak parlour and the cedar parlour — the 
latter a charming room with a fine ceiling, cedar-lined 
panels, and a cosy nook by the fireplace covered with 
quaint tapestry. Elizabeth fell in love with this room 
directly. She insisted that a certain cabinet she had seen 
upstairs should be brought down to the cedar parlour, 
and that an empty recess should be fitted up for books ; 
and the young men listened to her quite meekly. Pier 
reforms and alterations became so sweeping and extensive 
at last, that Malcolm, who at first had been only amused, 
grew seriously alarmed. “ We must see what Mr. Atkins 
thinks,” he kept observing ; “ we must decide on nothing 
without him.” Mr. Atkins was the lawyer who had 
managed all the Strickland business, and they were to 
drive into Donnarton that very afternoon to consult him. 
Nevertheless, when Malcolm made his little protest, Eliza- 
beth only shrugged her shoulders and muttered some- 
thing about “ cautious legal minds” under her breath. 

“ Good for you, Betty, that we have a lawyer handy,” 
observed Cedric in high good-humour, “ or you would 
be ruining yourself and Dinah too. No — no, Herrick is 


4o6 


HERB OF GRACE 


right : we will mend the holes and lay down fresh floor- 
ing where it is absolutely necessary, and do any cleaning 
and painting that are required, but the rest can keep for a 
while ; the parlours and two decent bedrooms are all we 
shall require.” And then they went off to see the dairy. 

They drove into Donnarton after an early dinner ; but 
on arriving at the lawyer’s Elizabeth suddenly remarked 
that they were far too large a party, and that she meant 
to do a little sight-seeing on her own account. So, as 
they knew of old that it was useless to argue with her, 
they went inside^ and from over the wire blind in the 
dingy front room Malcolm watched her crossing the but- 
ter market in the direction of the ancient churchyard that 
skirted one side of it. 

It troubled him to hear a bell toll as she passed through 
the little gate, and a moment later a funeral procession, 
following a small coffin, evidently .of a child, climbed 
slowly up the steps. 

After that he resigned himself to a long, tedious hour. 
The room was hot and airless, the lawyer very prosy and 
unnecessarily fluent; but he seemed a straightforward, 
honest man, and gave them good counsel. Malcolm was 
soon put into possession of all the Strickland bequest, and 
after this it was all plain sailing. 

The land was good, and though the farm had deterio- 
rated, a little judicious management and a moderate out- 
lay would soon put things on a different footing. This 
was Mr. Atkins’s opinion ; he had himself suggested that 
a partner with some capital should be found. 

Some final arrangements were made after this; then 
Cedric suggested that they should have tea at the inn, 
and Malcolm volunteered to go in search of Elizabeth. 

He felt sure that he should find her still in the church- 
yard, and he was right. She was standing near one of 
those dreary monuments which affectionate relatives 
loved to raise to their departed friends in the early Vic- 


‘‘YOU CAN BE DINAH’S FRIEND” 407 


torian era. There was old Time with his beard and 
scythe, a broken column, veiled mourners and a dejected- 
looking cherub, and the stiff funereal urn ; but Elizabeth 
was looking at a cluster of grassy mounds under a yew 
tree, with simple headstones, and here and there a cross. 
She looked up at Malcolm with a quiet smile. 

“ Have they sent you to find me?” she asked. “ It is 
so nice and peaceful here ; I like to think of all those tired 
workers resting after their labours — their work done.” 

“ I think you make a mistake there,” returned Malcolm, 
falling at once into her vein of thought. “ Resting, true, 
but their work is certainly not finished : it is only broken 
off, because probably they have reached a part that can 
only be carried on under certain conditions.” 

Elizabeth turned round in her quick way. “ Say that 
again !” she exclaimed eagerly, and Malcolm repeated his 
speech. 

“ I like that,” she murmured : “ if one could only 
grasp that thought.” 

“ There is no difficulty, surely,” he replied. “ People 
often talk of continuity of life, and continuity of love, 
and why not continuity of work? Think of all the thou- 
sands of workers who have gone hence, many of them in 
the prime of their youth or manhood — votaries of science, 
of art, pioneers and missionaries, soldiers of the Cross, 
and soldiers of the Queen — a vast army that no man can 
number !” Here Malcolm paused. 

“ Yes, yes — oh, please go on !” Elizabeth was drinking 
in his words as though they were new wine. 

“ You know what the Wisdom of Solomon says : ‘ In 
the sight of the unwise they seemed to die, and their 
departure is taken for misery but,” looking at her with 
a smile, “ you and I know better than that.” 

“ And you think, as Mr. Carlyon does, that there will 
be active life and work there?” and Elizabeth’s large sad 
eyes were full of yearning as she asked the question. 


4o8 


HERB OF GRACE 


“ How could I face the future if I did not believe it 
returned Malcolm earnestly. “ Why are these talents, 
these gifts of genius, this thirst for knowledge given to 
us, if they are not to be developed and turned to account 
hereafter? Think of the conditions under which such 
work will be done” — and here Malcolm’s voice was full 
of enthusiasm — the wisdom of the ages around us, the ' 
great ones of the earth — in whose footprints we have 
striven to walk — beside us in the fulness of their majesty 
— no hindrances, no physical weakness, no painful con- 
flict between the human will and the clouded intellect: 
the heir of all the ages will have entered his goodly heri- 
tage. Oh, forgive me,” checking himself abruptly, for 
the tears were streaming down Elizabeth’s cheeks. 

“ No — no, it has been such a comfort ! I shall not for- 
get; you have done me so much good;” and then she 
wiped away her tears, and tried to smile, and by the time 
they reached the inn she had regained her composure. 
During their drive home Malcolm occupied the seat next 
her in the waggonette, and Dinah, who was opposite to 
them, noticed that Elizabeth talked more to him than she 
had done since that unlucky afternoon at the Pool, and 
that Malcolm looked unusually happy. 

But his content was of short duration. The next morn- 
ing, as they were waiting for the waggonette to take them 
to the station, Elizabeth wandered into the deserted gar- 
den, and Malcolm, who followed her, found her standing 
under a Guelder rose-tree, picking some of the snowy 
blossoms. 

She greeted him with a smile. “ This reminds me of 
Cedric’s nursery days,” she observed. “ He used to love 
to pelt me with these soft white balls when he was a 
mite of a thing in a white frock and blue ribbons. Pow- 
der-puffins,” he used to call them. What a pretty 
little fellow he was, to be sure ! Well, Mr. Herrick,” 
as Malcolm made no reply, so our little jaunt is at 


^‘YOU CAN BE DINAH’S FRIEND” 409 

an end. It has really been very pleasant, don’t you think 
so?” 

“ I have enjoyed it,” returned Malcolm. Fie spoke with 
marked emphasis. 

“ Oh, so have we all,” she replied lightly. “ It is so 
delightful to see those two boys so ridiculously happy;” 
for both Cedric and Harry Strickland had behaved during 
breakfast time like a couple of crazy schoolboys. 

‘‘ You have helped to make them so,” observed Mal- 
colm meaningly. 

“ Oh no,” in a careless tone ; “ Dinah is taking the 
lion’s share. If I had had my way, I would have restored 
this beautiful old place — but two lawyers are enough to 
crush any woman.” 

“ I am only thankful that we were able to check such 
sinful extravagance,” he returned calmly ; “ I believe 
generosity can degenerate into positive vice.” But Eliza- 
beth refused to listen to this. 

“If it had been Cedric’s house, I would have done it 
up from garret to basement,” she said wilfully. “ Any- 
how, I mean to take the garden in hand. When you 
come down to the Wood House next, you shall hear all 
my plans, and of course we shall have one of our old 
fights over them.” 

Now what was there in this speech to cause such a 
curious revulsion in Malcolm’s mind? Elizabeth was 
speaking with the utmost good-humour, and at any other 
moment he would have thought her imperiousness charm- 
ing — so what possessed him to draw himself up and say 
rather stiffly that he feared that it would be some time 
before they saw him at Staplegrove. “ You know, I am 
going abroad this summer with my mother and Anna 
Sheldon,” he continued gravely ; “ we are going to the 
Engadine and the Italian Lakes.” 

“ But that is not until August,” returned Elizabeth, 
rather taken aback by Malcolm’s sudden gravity. She 


410 


HERB OF GRACE 


had been so pleased with him the previous afternoon; 
her liking for him had deepened, and she had felt a 
genuine desire for his friendship. In her secret heart she 
knew how well he had behaved, and was grateful to him 
for his delicacy and tact; but at this moment she felt as 
though she had received a douche of cold water. “ That 
is not until August, and it is only May now,’’ she repeated 
rather seriously. 

‘‘ Yes, I know” — but here Malcolm lost his self-com- 
mand. Perhaps the May sunshine dazzled him, or the 
soft friendliness in Elizabeth’s eyes and that unvarying 
kindliness tried his endurance, but for once the under- 
lying bitterness found vent. 

“ I cannot come before I go abroad — you, of all people, 
ought not to expect it ! You must know how I feel — that 
it is not good for me! When I am with you, I can 
scarcely endure my pain 1” He spoke harshly, almost 
flinging the words at her; but she answered him quite 
humbly. 

“ Forgive me, I did not want to hurt you,” in a trem- 
bling voice — “ I did not understand.” 

“ No, you have never understood,” but there was no 
conciliation in his tone ; “ you make things harder for 
me. Elizabeth, I ought not to have said this, but the hap- 
piness of these two days has been too much for me. I 
will keep away until I have regained mastery over myself, 
and then I will come. If you want me — if there be any- 
thing that I can do for you or your sister, you must send 
for me.” 

“ I could not do that,” she returned, averting her face, 
and showers of white petals powdered the ground at her 
feet, as her nervous fingers unconsciously stript the stalks 
— “ you have made that impossible.” And then she con- 
tinued impulsively, “ Mr. Herrick, you must believe how 
sorry I am. You have been such a friend — such a true, 
kind friend, and I have been so grateful to you I” 


^‘YOU CAN BE DINAH’S FRIEND” 41 1 


“ I can never be your friend, Elizabeth” — there was a 
sad finality about Malcolm’s tone that made Elizabeth 
shrink from him almost timidly. 

Can you not ?” she returned with a little sob. “ But 
you can be Dinah’s friend. Do not let her suffer because 
of this; if we are both unhappy, there is no need that 
she should be, and you are one of her greatest com- 
forts.” 

“ You are right,” replied Malcolm more gently, and 
I shall always be at Miss Templeton’s service. I know 
you tell her everything, will you let her know this ? — when 
she wants me, when either of you want me, I will come 
if needs be from the ends of the earth. You will believe 
this?” 

“ I always believe Dinah’s friend/’ she returned, in a 
voice he hardly recognised — it was so soft and full of feel- 
ing ; “ but how I shall miss mine !” and here Elizabeth’s 
eyes were very sad. She looked at the bare flower-stalks 
in her hands rather remorsefully before she threw them 
away and returned to the house. 

On their way to the station Malcolm occupied a seat 
next to the driver. Now and then Elizabeth glanced up 
at the broad shoulders a little wistfully. How silent he 
was, she did not once hear his voice ! While they waited 
for the train, he and Harry Strickland paced up and down 
the platform. The train was rather full, one or two 
strangers were in their compartment, and whether acci- 
dentally or by purpose, Malcolm was shut off from the 
rest of his party. 

At Waterloo a silent hand-shake was all that passed 
between him and Elizabeth, and even to Dinah he said 
little ; but as he drove off in the hansom, he told himself 
that he had done right, and that he did not regret a single 
word he had spoken. 

It was far better for her to know the truth : he under- 
stood her so well — she was not dense, but she was wilfully 


412 


HERB OF GRACE 


blinding her eyes; very likely she was misled by his 
calm, matter-of-fact manner. 

“ She thinks I have got over it — that I have come to 
my senses, and accepted the inevitable — that we can be 
friends in the comfortable, approved fashion” — here Mal- 
colm’s eyes flashed with sudden fire — “ but she has found 
out her mistake. No, there shall be no more deception. 
When I see her again I shall wear my true colours — 
though Heaven forbid that I should persecute her with 
attentions that only embarrass and distress her. No, you 
are safe with me, dear,” he murmured inwardly ; “ but 
even for your sweet sake I will not act a lie. I am Dinah’s 
friend, but your lover, Elizabeth — and must be as long as 
I have life and breath” — and somehow this solemn avowal 
of his heart’s secret did Malcolm good. But Dinah no- 
ticed that Elizabeth was more than usually depressed for 
some time after their return to the Wood House. 


CHAPTER XLII 


THE WHIRLIGIG OF TIME 

Give what you have; to some it may be better than you dare 
to think. — Longfellow. 

The Possible stands by us ever fresh, 

Fairer than aught which any life hath owned, 

And makes divine amends. 

Jean Ingelow. 

Two years had passed away since Malcolm had uttered 
his passionate protest in the Priory garden that May 
morning, when the white petals of the Guelder roses in 
Elizabeth’s hand lay like snow on the gravel path, and all 
this time he had sternly adhered to his resolution. 

In those two years he had only paid four visits to the 
Wood House, and on two of these occasions Elizabeth 
had been absent. Each time he had come on Dinah’s in- 
vitation, to give her the help and counsel she needed, and 
more than once he had met her at 27 Queen’s Gate. 

For Cedric had had his way, and had effected an intro- 
duction between his sisters and Mrs. Herrick ; and as they 
had mutually taken to each other, a pleasant intimacy had 
been the result, and Anna had paid two or three visits to 
the Wood House. From the first moment of their meet- 
ing Anna had fallen in love with Dinah. “ You must not 
think that I do not care for Miss Elizabeth Templeton,” 
she had observed rather shyly to Malcolm, after her first 
visit to Staplegrove — '' for I admire and like her more 
than I can say, and I am never tired of talking to her — 
but I do love my dear Miss Dinah !” And indeed Dinah 
accepted the girl’s innocent worship with great kindness. 

She is a dear child, and Elizabeth and I are very fond 

413 


414 


HERB OF GRACE 


of her,” she wrote once to Malcolm ; the thought that 
some one else is fond of her too makes me very happy.” 
For at this time it was evident to all Cedric’s friends that 
a mutual attachment was growing up between him and 
Anna. 

The years had not been unfruitful to Malcolm, and his 
name as a powerful and successful author was firmly 
established. He no longer held his appointeent, and had 
given up his dingy chambers in Lincoln’s Inn. His own 
work fully occupied him, and thanks to his literary re- 
ceipts and his mother’s generosity, he realised a good 
income. 

To his own regret and to his friends also, he was no 
longer a member of the Keston menage. He had out- 
grown his homely quarters, and now occupied one of the 
new flats in Cheyne Walk, and lived in quite a palatial 
fashion, though many a pipe was still smoked in Amias’s 
studio. Malcolm had emerged from his shell, and mixed 
freely in society. His was a name to conjure with, and all 
the people best worth knowing gathered round him and 
delighted to do him homage. Elizabeth used to read his 
name sometimes in the columns of the Times and the 
Morning Post. “ He seems to go everywhere, and to 
know every one,” she observed once to Dinah; am 
afraid he will be terribly spoiled.” But she only said it 
to tease Dinah. She knew that Malcolm Herrick had no 
overweening estimate of himself — that, in spite of his 
success and his many friends, and all the smiles and 
adulation lavished on him, at heart he was a lonely man. 
Perhaps in her way Elizabeth was lonely too. In spite of 
her devotion to David’s father, there were times when the 
narrowness of her life oppressed her — when her broad 
sympathies and strong vitality seemed to cry out for a 
larger life, for a wider outlook — when she trod the wood- 
land paths with a sense of weariness — the same path day 
after day. 


THE WHIRLIGIG OF TIME 


415 


“ How tired one. gets of it all!” she said to herself one 
May afternoon, as she came in sight of the porch where 
Mr. Carlyon was reading tranquilly and enjoying the 
sweet spring air. The curate-in-charge looked slightly 
older and had taken to spectacles, but otherwise there 
was little change in him. On the whole, his existence 
was a very peaceful one. He loved Rotherwood and the 
simple, kindly folk amongst whom he lived. His books 
and Elizabeth’s society were his chief pleasures. If the 
day passed without seeing her, Theo noticed that he grew 
restless and preoccupied, and finally went across to the 
Wood House on some excuse or other, to assure himself 
that nothing was amiss. 

“ Father thinks that there is no one like Elizabeth,” 
Theo would observe : “ nothing that she says or does is 
wrong. If he had his way they would never be apart;” 
and Theo was right. 

In spite of his short sight, Mr. Carlyon soon detected 
the signs of mental weariness on Elizabeth’s pale face; 
for as she seated herself on the wooden bench beside him, 
he patted her hand in his tender, homely way. 

“ What is it, my dear?” he asked gently. You look 
tired, Elizabeth.” 

Do I ?” she returned absently ; “ I feel as though I 
could walk ten miles with pleasure. That is the worst, 
I am so strong that nothing tires me. Sometimes I fancy 
it would be a pleasant experience to be honestly fatigued 
in some good cause. How one would sleep after it !” 

I thought you always slept well, dear ?” 

Oh, so I do : often I fall asleep as soon as my head is 
on the pillow. But I wake early — the first twitter of the 
birds rouses me — and then life looks so long.” Elizabeth 
spoke in a dejected tone. 

Come and walk,” was Mr. Carlyon’s only answer to 
this ; I have been writing my sermon all the morning, 
and I feel a bit stiff and headachy. Let us go down the 


4i6 


HERB OF GRACE 


valley;” and as Elizabeth made no objection to this, he 
got his hat and stick, and they sallied forth together. 
Outside the gate they came upon the vicar, and the three 
walked on together, as Mr. Charrington intended calling 
at the Crow’s Nest. Elizabeth had been very silent all the 
way, and had left the conversation to the two gentlemen. 
When Mr. Charrington had quitted them, they turned 
into the long woodland path that skirted the valley. It 
was a beautiful spot, and a favourite resort of Elizabeth’s. 
She loved to breathe the spicy incense of the pines, and 
to watch the shadows move across the valley. As they 
seated themselves under a little clump of firs, they could 
look down into the dark woods far below. All round 
them were heather, bracken, whortleberries, and bram- 
bles, and later on the hillside would be a glory of purple. 

‘‘Well, Elizabeth, what is it?” asked Mr. Carlyon, as 
she still sat beside him in a brown study, and her brow 
puckered and lined with thought. “ I am sure I have 
been patient enough.” Then she started and laughed a 
little nervously. 

“ How stupid I am this afternoon ! And I have so 
much to tell you. I am so ashamed of myself, for I ought 
to be in such good spirits. The young people have come 
to an understanding at last. Cedric and Anna have writ- 
ten to Dinah ; I left her crying for joy over their letters. 

“ I do not wonder at that — Miss Sheldon is a sweet 
girl.” 

“ Cedric thinks she is perfect. I wish you could have 
seen his letter: he is rapturously happy. And Anna 
writes so sweetly: she says it seems like a dream; that 
she can hardly believe in her happiness; that she does 
not deserve it, and that Cedric is everything that she 
could desire.” 

“ Ah, they are young — life does not seem long to them, 
does it, Elizabeth?” She smiled and shook her head. 

“ Cedric is going to bring her down on Wednesday, 


THE WHIRLIGIG OF TIME 


417 


and he wants Mr. Herrick to come too. Dinah means to 
ask him, I believe. I tell her that he is far too busy and 
important a personage to trouble with our small family 
concerns; but Dinah was quite indignant when I said 
that.” 

“ She has greater faith in his friendship, you see.” But 
to this Elizabeth made no answer. She went on talking 
with assumed eagerness of the young couple. 

“ Cedric intends to be married soon,” she said. Mr. 
Strickland is going to let them have the Priory, and has 
taken a cottage for his own use. How charmed Anna 
will be when she sees it — the garden is a dream of beauty, 
and the house is delightful !” For each summer she and 
Dinah had spent weeks at the Priory, and had succeeded 
in transforming the place. Anna would have a lovely 
home, and the simple country life would be far more to 
her taste than ever town had been. Even Mrs. Herrick, 
who would feel her loss keenly, owned this. 

“ And Mr. Herrick is to be asked on this grand occa- 
sion? I am glad of that, Elizabeth;” and here Mr. Carl- 
yon pushed up his spectacles and peered at her in his mild, 
short-sighted way. “ Do you know, my child, there is 
something I have been wanting to say to you for a long 
time, and I may as well say it now.” 

Elizabeth looked at him rather apprehensively: there 
was something significant in his manner. 

“ Something ? What do you mean ?” she faltered. 

“ You have been a dear good daughter to me,” he 
went on, clearing his throat from a slight huskiness, “ and 
if you were my own flesh and blood you could not be more 
to me. We have so much in common, have we not, my 
dear — and then we both loved David.” 

“ Yes — yes,” she murmured, and the ready tears sprang 
to her eyes. 

“ We mourned for our dear boy together,” he went on 
slowly, '' and groped our way hand in hand through the 

27 


4i8 


HERB OF GRACE 


darkness. How unhappy we were three years ago ! Even 
now it is painful to look back on those days, but, thank 
God! time and His grace have helped us, and we no 
longer suffer.” 

“ I am not so sure of that,” returned Elizabeth in a 
low voice ; but he seemed not to hear her. 

“ You have been very faithful, Elizabeth. If you had 
been David’s widow you could not have mourned for him 
more deeply; but, as David’s father, I would bid you 
mourn no more.” 

She stared at him with parted lips, but the words would 
not come. 

“ Why should you spoil your life, Elizabeth ? You are 
only thirty-five, and please God there are many, many 
years before you. Why is your heart to be empty and 
your arms unfilled because our precious boy is in para- 
dise i Do you know, my dear, we often spoke of this — he 
and I. Thank God, there were no secrets between us. 
and he told me more than once that the thought of your 
future was always on his mind.” 

Elizabeth bowed her head on her hands. She was 
weeping now, though the tears came very quietly. “If 
he had only talked to me !” she murmured. 

“ He tried to do so more than once,” returned Mr. 
Carlyon, “ but each time you stopped him. Would you 
like me to tell you what he said as well as I can remember 
his words?” She nodded, but her face was still hidden. 

“ It was at Ventnor, and very near the end, and he 
was talking about you — living or dying you were his one 
thought. ' I know how she will grieve,’ he said to me, 
' but, father, you must not let her grieve too long. I 
think it would trouble me even in paradise — if such a 
thing could be — if I thought I had spoilt her life. Eliza- 
beth is made for happiness — she must not waste her 
sweetness.’ And then — shall I go on?” but all the same 
he did not wait for consent — “ it was then that David told 


THE WHIRLIGIG OF TIME 


419 


me something that I had guessed before — that some one 
else loved you, and loved you dearly. I am right, am I 
not, Elizabeth?” No answer, but he could see how her 
hands clutched each other, as though in sudden agitation. 

“ ^ I was beforehand, and he had no chance,’ David 
went on, ‘ but he is my superior in everything’ — he was 
always so humble in his own estimation, dear fellow. 

' Father, Malcolm Herrick worships the ground she walks 
on. One day he must have his reward.’ ” 

“ Oh, hush — hush, for pity’s sake,” and Elizabeth 
stretched out her hand to stop him, but he detained it 
gently. 

“ Elizabeth, three years are long enough for mourning, 
and Mr. Herrick has been very patient. Why should 
another life be spoiled? Why should you doom him as 
well as yourself to loneliness? I have not forgotten his 
look that evening when you were singing to us — it was 
the look of a man who is starving for a little happiness, 
for the comfort and sweet sustenance that only a wife 
can give him. There, I will say no more — I have dis- 
charged my conscience, and repeated my boy’s words. 
I trust they have not been spoken in vain.” His hand 
rested lightly on her head for a moment as though in 
blessing, but no word escaped his lips. Then he rose, 
and after a moment Elizabeth joined him, and they 
walked back silently together. 

You are not vexed with me, my dear?” he asked 
anxiously, when they parted at the gate of Rowan Cot- 
tage. Then Elizabeth raised her sad eyes to his. 

“ Why should I be vexed? You are always so kind — 
so kind ; but you have said things that have troubled 
me;” and she left him, and walked on rapidly until she 
found herself in the familiar woodland path, and then she 
unconsciously slackened her pace. 

She felt strangely shaken and agitated. The words her 
old friend had spoken had thrilled her as though by ah 


420 


HERB OF GRACE 


electric shock. It was a message from the dead. Half- 
involuntarily she sank down on the bank in the very spot 
where Malcolm had picked the honeysuckle. She knew 
what it was to be tired now — for the moment she felt 
weak and powerless as a little child. 

Over and over again she repeated dumbly Mr. Carl- 
yon’s words. How could she doubt that David had 
spoken them when he had tried with loving unselfishness 
to say them to her! Would she ever forget the tender 
solemnity of his manner? — 

‘‘ Elizabeth, life is long as you say, and your great 
loving heart must not remain unsatisfied. Do not mourn 
for me too long — do not refuse comfort that may be 
offered to you, if you can be happy, dear;” but she had 
stopped him, and he could say no more. Truly, as his 
father had said, “ living or dying she had been his one 
thought.” “ Oh, how good you were to me, David 1” she 
whispered. 

She rose and paced restlessly to and fro, while a bright- 
eyed robin watched her from a hazel twig; for other 
words besides David’s were haunting her, and had been 
haunting her for two years, thought she had vainly tried 
to forget them. Sometimes she would wake from sleep 
with her heart beating, and those sad, reproachful words 
sounding in her ears — 

‘‘ I can never be your friend, Elizabeth.” And again, 
“ If either of you want me, I will come if needs be from 
the ends of the earth.” Would she ever forget the look 
on his face as he said this 1 

She had told him then that she should miss him. In 
these two years she had only seen him twice, and each 
time some strange embarrassment on her part had seemed 
to estrange them still more. He was Dinah’s friend, not 
hers — from her he would have all or nothing. And yet, 
as time went on, and that vast loneliness of life pressed 
on her more and more, and her woman spirit seemed to 


THE WHIRLIGIG OF TIME 


421 


wander through waste places seeking rest and finding 
none, that silent, patient love, that seemed to enfold her 
from a distance, began to appeal to her more strongly. 
“ Why should another life be spoiled ?” Mr. Carlyon had 
said. “ Ah, why indeed ?” she murmured. 

Then her mood changed ; her face grew hot, and there 
was a pained look in her eyes. “ I have tried him too 
much,'’ she thought ; “ there are limits even to his pa- 
tience. Last time I noticed a change: he is growing 
weary — perhaps he has seen some one else and here she 
choked down something like a sob and hurried on. 

Dinah wondered what was amiss with her that evening ; 
she seemed so listless and silent, and took so little interest 
in the absorbing topic of Cedric’s engagement. 

The young couple were to arrive the following after- 
noon, and Dinah had arranged to drive to Earlsfield to 
meet them. As they sat down to luncheon, she said to 
Elizabeth, “ I am so glad that Mr. Herrick has promised 
to come to-morrow; I have just had a telegram from 
him;” and she handed it to her sister. Elizabeth was 
rather a long time reading it. “ Shall be with you by 
dinner-time. Shall take fly. Stay two nights.” 

“ Is it not good of him to come, when he is so dreadfully 
busy?” continued Dinah in her placid, satisfied voice. 

Cedric will be delighted to have him ! Do you think we 
ought to ask Theo and Mr. Carlyon to dinner, or would 
Mr. Herrick prefer just a family party?” 

“ Oh, I think a family party will suit him best,” re- 
turned Elizabeth gravely ; “ Theo rather bores him with 
her parish talk ;” and Dinah said no more. 


CHAPTER XLIII 


A MAY AFTERNOON 

What is this love that now on angel wing 
Sweeps us amid the stars in passionate calm. 

MacDonald. 

Elizabeth stood on the terrace in the sweet stillness 
of a May afternoon. She had been gathering flowers for 
the dinner-table and drawing-room — masses of white and 
mauve lilac, long golden trails of laburnum, dainty pink 
and white May blossoms — but though the Guelder roses 
almost dropped into her hand, she passed them by un- 
touched and with averted eyes. All her life they had been 
her special favourites, but now they recalled too vividly 
a painful episode — the day when Malcolm Herrick so 
sternly and so sorrowfully refused her his friendship. 

Malcolm had been nearly twenty-four hours at the 
Wood House, and she had hardly exchanged a dozen 
words with him, and already he had signified his intention 
of returning to town the next morning, in spite of Cedric’s 
vehement protestations. He had arrived so late the pre- 
vious evening that he had had only time for a hasty greet- 
ing before he went to his room to prepare for dinner. 
During the evening the young couple had naturally en- 
grossed his attention. A harder-hearted man than Mal- 
colm would have been touched by Anna’s innocent hap- 
piness and her shy pride in her handsome young lover. 

Does she not look lovely 1” Elizabeth had said to him in 
a low voice as they were all gathered on the terrace after 
dinner. And indeed the girl looked very fair and sweet 
in her white silk dress, with a row of pearls clasped round 
her soft throat. “ You are right ; and yet I never thought 
422 


A MAY AFTERNOON 


423 


Anna really pretty,” he returned in a cool, critical tone. 

Happiness is generally a beautifier, and my little girl 
certainly looks her best to-night.” And then he went 
after them; and Elizabeth saw that Anna was hanging 
on his arm as they went down the steps and that Cedric’s 
hand was on his shoulder. 

How happy they are !” she thought a little enviously ; 

they are both devoted to him, and he certainly returns 
their affection. He is good and kind to every one but 
me,” she continued resentfully : “ if Dinah had said that, 
he would not have answered her so curtly and then turned 
on his heel and left her.” Here Elizabeth wilfully ig- 
nored the fact that Cedric had signalled to him somewhat 
impatiently. 

I believe that he has made a vow not to speak to me 
if he can help it.” 

Elizabeth was in a restless, irritable frame of mind that 
prevented her from taking a reasonable view of things. 
If she had been less alive to her own embarrassment and 
discomfort, she would have discovered for herself that 
Malcolm was ill at ease too. 

If he had not talked much to her, he had watched her 
closely, and it had troubled and pained him to see how 
thin and worn she looked; in the strong light he had 
even noticed a faint tinge of gray in her bright brown 
hair. 

“ She is pitiless to herself as well as to me,” he said 
to himself bitterly ; “ if she goes on like this, she will be 
an old woman before her time. Her life is too limited: 
it suits Dinah, but it does not suit Elizabeth. Why 
should she spend her time teaching village children and 
fagging after that old man” — for Malcolm was growing 
hopeless and embittered. 

The evening had not been productive of much comfort 
to either of them; a sense of widening estrangement, 
of ever-deepening misunderstanding kept them apart. 


424 


HERB OF GRACE 


When Elizabeth went to the piano — for she had been in- 
duced to resume her singing — Malcolm did not follow 
her; neither did she sing one of his favourite songs. 
Even when Dinah innocently recalled one that she re- 
membered he loved, and begged her sister to sing it, Eliza- 
beth obstinately refused. “ Oh, that old thing !” she said 
contemptuously; “ I am so tired of it.” But Malcolm 
was quite aware of her reason for refusing: she would 
make no effort to please him, for fear he should be en- 
couraged to repeat his offence. 

The next morning things were no better. Cedric had 
asked Malcolm to walk with them to the valley. It was 
a glorious morning — bright and fresh and sweet — just 
the day for a prowl,” as Cedric said. “ You will come too, 
Betty ?” he continued ; but to every one’s surprise Eliza- 
beth demurred to this. 

She was very sorry,” she stammered, “ but she had 
promised to go to Rotherwood.” 

“ Why, we are all going there after luncheon !” ex- 
claimed Cedric. ‘‘ Herrick wants to call at the vicarage, 
so we can leave him there, and you can go on to Rowan 
Cottage.” 

But again Elizabeth hesitated. “ It was a great pity,” 
she returned hurriedly, “ but Mr. Carlyon and Theo were 
going to Earlsfield in the afternoon, and she wanted to 
see Theo particularly about the new school-books that 
they were to order at Thornton’s. Theo makes such mis- 
takes,” she went on : “ the last batch was all wrong and 
had to be sent back;” and though Cedric argued with 
her, and Anna put in a persuasive word or two, Elizabeth 
was firm. The afternoon would not do. She was very 
sorry to be so unsociable; but it could not be helped — 
she must go alone. 

All this time Malcolm had said no word. Perhaps if 
he had, Elizabeth might have been induced to reconsider 
her decision. The fact was, she was getting sore as well 


A MAY AFTERNOON 


425 


as unhappy. “ If he had wanted me, he would have asked 
me to accompany them,’’ she said to herself, never dream- 
ing that her brusque, decided manner made any such invi- 
tation on his part a sheer impossibility. 

So Elizabeth had her way, and spent a long pottering 
morning in the schools and in going over accounts with 
Theo. More than once she put back her hair from her 
hot forehead with a gesture of weariness. How lovely the 
valley would look ! she thought. How dark the shadows 
of the firs would lie! while golden shafts of sunlight 
would penetrate between the slender stems I She knew 
where they would be sitting — on a shady knoll overlook- 
ing the Dale farm and the range of hillside beyond. They 
would be talking to him about the Priory, and their future 
life, and all their hopes and fears; and he would be 
listening to them with that kind smile she knew so well 
on his lips. 

“ What is the matter with you, Elizabeth ?” cried Theo 
rather pettishly ; “ do you know, you have added up all 
those figures wrongly?” 

Have I, dear ? I am so sorry and Elizabeth, with 
a tired little sigh, worked her way up the column again. 
When she had entered the sum-total, she took up her 
hat. 

“ Surely you will wait for father,” observed Theo, 
rather surprised at this unusual haste ; “ you know he 
promised us that he would be back soon after twelve.” 

“ Yes, I know ; but we have a guest staying with us, 
and I ought not to absent myself too long. I have seen 
Mr. Carlyon already and he will understand. Please give 
him my love.” 

Elizabeth could not have told why she was in such a 
hurry to be home, or why the morning seemed so endless 
to her. Theo’s tactless remarks irritated her more than 
usual; she could hardly control her impatience as she 
answered her. 


426 


HERB OF GRACE 


“ Theo is very wearisome at times/’ she thought, as 
she walked rapidly through the woodlands. 

But after all there had been no need for haste. She 
found Dinah alone; the walking party had not returned. 

“ Oh, how tired you look, Betty dear !” — this had been 
Dinah’s constant remark of late. “ You have been shut 
up with those noisy children and Theo all the morning, 
instead of sitting on the hillside enjoying the breeze from 
the moor. I am afraid’ — here Dinah hesitated — “ that 
Mr. Herrick was a little hurt about it. Don’t you think 
one ought to do something to entertain one’s guests?” 

This was quite a severe reproof from her gentle sister ; 
but Elizabeth only laughed a little mirthless laugh. 

“ He is your guest, not mine, Dinah — you ought to 
have gone to the valley yourself” — which was carrying 
the attack into the enemy’s country. “ No one wanted 
my society — a disagreeable, cross old maid — eh, Dinah ?” 
Elizabeth’s poor little joke nearly ended disastrously, for 
her lip quivered and she was very near a sob; but in 
another minute she recovered herself, and Dinah wisely 
said no more. 

But the moment Elizabeth saw Malcolm’s face at 
luncheon she knew her sister was right : he was unusually 
silent, rather constrained in manner, and hardly addressed 
her. 

Then an evil spirit of contradiction entered into Eliza- 
beth, and she became suddenly extremely talkative. To 
listen to her, Rotherwood might have been a rustic para- 
dise, full of “ village Hampdens and mute, inglorious 
Miltons,” and that in its idyllic streets peace and sim- 
plicity reigned. Even the heavy, loutish Tommies and 
Jacks, who had exasperated her by their dense stupidity 
that morning, were only subjects for a humorous anec- 
dote or two, with little effective and sprightly touches 
which made Cedric throw back his head with a boyish 
laugh. But Malcolm never raised his eyes from his plate. 


A MAY AFTERNOON 


427 


To him Elizabeth’s graphic descriptions were far from 
amusing. He was thankful when the meal was over and 
they were ready to set out for Rotherwood. 

Dinah had some calls to pay, so Elizabeth had the house 
to herself for an hour or two ; but she would not be idle 
for a moment. The sun was hot on the terrace and 
flower-beds, but the vases were to be replenished. Dinah 
had returned and brought her a cup of tea before she 
had finished. “ I should not be surprised if they all had 
tea at the vicarage,” she observed, and Elizabeth assented. 

But a little later, as she stood on the terrace with a few 
sprays of lilac in her hand, which she meant to carry off 
to her own room, she heard Cedric’s laugh distinctly from 
the drive. Her cheeks burned suddenly and a curious re- 
vulsion came over her. She had not expected them back 
so soon: she was not ready to meet them. She glanced 
at the drawing-room windows behind her. It would not 
do to go in that way ; they would come face to face in the 
hall. She would go down to the Pool ; no one would look 
for her there. He — Mr. Herrick — had never once been 
there since that day. She knew how he avoided the place. 
Yes, she would be safe there, and could get cool and 
collect her thoughts, and to-night she would behave bet- 
ter and sing some of the old songs. Elizabeth was half 
over the rustic bridge as she made this resolution; then 
she walked quickly through the little gap which led to the 
shady pool, with its moss-grown boulders ; but the next 
minute she recoiled in absolute terror. Some one was 
standing there, gazing down into the still water, with bent 
head and folded arms. It was Malcolm ! 

She would have crept away; but at the sound of 
her footsteps he turned round, and her retreat was cut 
off. 

“ You quite startled me, Mr. Herrick,” she said rather 
nervously; “I thought you never came here.” It was 
the last thing she ought to have said, but she was con- 


428 HERB OF GRACE 

fused by the sudden surprise. A faint smile crossed Mal- 
colm’s pale face. 

“ You are right,” he said in a curious undertone, '' I 
have never seen it since that day, three and a half years 
ago. But it has haunted me: more than once I have 
dreamt of it — such foolish dreams! You were Ophelia, 
and the water-weeds were strangling you and dragging 
you down, and I was trying to help you.” 

“ Well,” with a forced laugh, “ did you succeed in 
saving me ?” 

I think not ; I have a fancy that you told me that you 
preferred strangling to my help. Oh, it was only a 
dream,” as Elizabeth looked rather horrified at this ; “ my 
dreams of the Pool were never happy ones.” 

Elizabeth made no reply to this — ^perhaps words were 
a little difficult at the moment. But as Malcolm said no 
more, she observed presently — “ I suppose you thought 
you could exorcise the nightmares by seeing the place 
again?” Then he turned round and looked her full in the 
face, and the lines round his mouth were fixed and stern. 

No,” he said with unnatural calmness, “ any such 
exorcism would be useless in my case ; I have only come 
to take a last look at it.” 

Elizabeth’s strength seemed to forsake her, and she 
sank down on the boulder. “ What — what do you mean ? ’ 
she asked faintly. 

“ What do I mean ?” with a bitter laugh, but his eyes 
flashed ominously. “ I mean that I am a coward. 
Cowards run away, do they not ? Elizabeth, I am beaten 
— I confess it — I am going to give it up. I shall come 
here no more.” 

“ No more — not come to the Wood House?” Elizabeth 
could scarcely gasp out the words. 

No,” he replied quietly, ‘‘ not even to see your sister. 
I mean to tell her so before I leave ; she will understand 
me. Why should I come here to be treated as you have 


A MAY AFTERNOON 


429 


treated me to-day ? Each time I come you show me more 
plainly that my love and devotion are nothing to you. 
Well, dear as you are to me — God only knows how dear 
— I can lead my life without you. Yes, I will free myself 
from my bonds — I will be no woman’s slave.” 

If she could only speak ! The tears were running down 
her face now ; he must have seen them if he had looked ; 
but as she put up her hands to hide them, a little choking 
sob escaped her and reached his ear. 

He bent over her and spoke in a gentler tone. “ Why 
are you weeping, Elizabeth ? Are those tears for yourself 
or me?” 

“ For myself,” she whispered ; “ because you are leav- 
ing me, and I want you — I want you so.” 

Strong man as he was, Malcolm trembled from head to 
foot with the sudden shock and revulsion. What could 
she mean? The next minute he was kneeling on the 
ground beside her, and had drawn away her hands, so 
that she was as defenceless as a child. 

I must see your face, Elizabeth,” very firmly. “ You 
are a truthful woman, you never deceived any one; let 
me read the truth in your eyes. You want me you say — 
does that mean you are beginning to care for me ?” 

“ I think so ;” but Elizabeth’s eyes refused to meet his. 

“ Does it mean that you love me well enough to be 
my wife?” he asked again, and his voice thrilled her 
through and through. Then a lovely colour came to 
Elizabeth’s face. 

‘‘ I think I do, Malcolm,” she whispered timidly. I 
believe I have been caring a long time, but I would not 
let myself believe it. Oh,” dropping her hot cheek against 
his shoulder, it nearly broke my heart when you said 
you would never come again.” 

I meant it, dearest ; it seemed to me that my last 
hope was gone. Oh, my beloved — my own at last !” and 
then Malcolm’s long, passionate kiss set the seal to their 


430 


HERB OF GRACE 


betrothal, and for a little while there was the silence of 
a great peace. 

An hour had passed — no one had come in search of 
them, and the evening shadows were beginning to steal 
over the Pool — but still they sat hand in hand, talking 
earnestly and lovingly after the manner of lovers, until 
the gong warned them that it was time to return to the 
house. But even then they lingered. 

‘‘ Is the spirit of the Pool properly exorcised now, Mal- 
colm?” asked Elizabeth, with her old playfulness. Then- 
he clasped her close. 

“ I have her safe in my own keeping. Dearest,” in a 
low, vibrating tone full of tenderness, “ if I ever grow 
supine or forgetful in my great happiness, and the 
memory of these long years of misery and unrest fade 
away, you must bring me here and I shall remember.” 

“ You shall remember nothing but that I love you,” she 
whispered. “ Malcolm, you will not leave me to-morrow ? 
I cannot part with you so soon.” And he promised that 
he would certainly remain over Sunday. 

Elizabeth had not entirely laid aside her mourning, but 
the black silk dress she selected that evening fitted her 
exquisitely, and the dull, heavy folds suited her tall, 
queenly figure. She looked at herself for a moment, then 
with a hesitating hand she fastened a spray of white lilac 
in her dress. The next moment there was a familiar tap 
at her door, and Dinah, flushed and agitated, came into 
the room. 

Elizabeth watched her smilingly; then she opened her 
arms without a word, and for a few moments the sisters 
held each other very closely. 

“ Oh, Betty, my darling — my darling, if you knew how 
happy this has made me !” 

How did you know. Die — have you seen him ?” 

“Yes, just now; he was crossing the hall, and I saw 
his face. We were alone, there was no one near, and he 


A MAY AFTERNOON 


431 


caught hold of my hands — oh, such a grip. ‘ Dinah,’ he 
said — ‘ you will let me call you Dinah now ? for I am 
going to be your brother.’ But we had no time for 
another word, for Cedric and Anna came out of the 
drawing-room.” 

‘‘We shall not tell them this evening,” returned Eliza- 
beth. “ Malcolm has promised to keep it quiet. I told 
him that only you — my other self — must know to-night. 
You will be careful, will you hot. Die?” 

“ Yes, dear, but you must let me hear more. How did 
it happen, Betty? I thought you and Malcolm Herrick 
never meant to speak to each other again. It has been 
such a tiresome, uncomfortable day. When I brought 
you that cup of tea on the terrace I did so long to say a 
word to you ; but I saw by your face that I should only 
make things worse.” 

“ I am glad you refrained. Do you know. Die, I 
thought I heard them in the drive — I had no idea that 
Malcolm had returned an hour before — and I got into 
such a panic that I went down to the Pool to recover 
myself, and — and he was there.” 

“ At the Pool?” 

“ Yes, and he heard me, and I was obliged to stay ; 
and then he told me that the place haunted him, and gave 
him bad dreams — oh, such ghastly dreams; and then all 
at once he said he was taking his last look at it — that he 
never meant to come here again.” 

“ Poor fellow, did he really say that?” 

“ It was poor Betty, I think, then. Oh, Die, if you 
knew how limp and helpless I felt when he said that; I 
trembled so that I was obliged to sit down, and — and I 
could not help crying. I know I acted like a fool, but the 
next moment I could feel him bending over me, and his 
voice was quite changed and gentle when he asked me 
why I was crying.” 

“ Of course you told him ?” 


432 


HERB OF GRACE 


“ Yes, I could not keep it back ; and then somehow it 
all came right, and we were both so happy. Oh, Die, 
how wonderful it seems that two such men should love 
me — my own dear David, and now Malcolm ! I am not 
young or beautiful, or even clever.’^ 

I think I understand it,” returned Dinah, affection- 
ately. And then Elizabeth put the last touches to her 
toilet, and a moment later they went downstairs, and 
found Malcolm still pacing the hall. He put out his 
hand silently to Elizabeth as they followed Dinah into the 
dining-room. That warm, quiet grasp was full of com- 
forting assurance ; as long as life lasted Elizabeth would 
have her lover and her friend ; she had found her right- 
ful mate, and the old restless days were over. 


CHAPTER XLIV 


“ MY DEAREST REST” 

She loves thee even as far-forth than 

As any woman may a man ; 

And is thine own, and so she says ; 

And cares for thee ten thousand ways. 

Surrey. 

Something in Elizabeth's aspect seemed to attract 
Cedric’s attention; perhaps it was the veiled brightness 
of her expression, or the white flowers at her breast, but 
more than once he eyed her in a puzzled fashion, 

‘‘ What have you done to yourself, Betty ?” he burst 
out at last ; “ you look scrumptious — ten years younger, 
and as though you had turned up trumps and though 
Elizabeth pretended to frown at these personal remarks, 
it was impossible not to laugh. Cedric had no idea how 
nearly he had gauged the truth : he little knew the good 
news that awaited him the next day. The knowledge that 
his dearest and most honoured friend was to be his 
brother-in-law would fill his cup of bliss to the brim. 

Anna was somewhat weary with her unusual exertions 
that day, and after dinner Dinah established her in a cosy 
corner of the drawing-room, promising that Cedric should 
come and talk to her there. 

“ I will stay with you till he comes, and then I have 
a letter to write,” she observed, for Dinah’s tact was 
never at fault. 

Elizabeth kissed her hand to them smilingly; then 
she wrapped herself up in a soft fleecy shawl and went 
out into the moonlight, and presently Malcolm joined 
her. 

I had some difficulty in shaking off Cedric,” he re- 
28 433 


434 


HERB OF GRACE 


marked, as he took her hand and placed it on his arm; 
“ he was in a talkative mood, but I told him his ladye-love 
would be waiting for him. He little knew my ladye-love 
was waiting for me too.” 

No ; how pleased he will be when we tell him.” How 
sweetly that “ we” sounded in Malcolm’s ears ! “ Mal- 

colm, there is something I want to ask you. Will you 
go with me to Rotherwood to-morrow? I must see Mr. 
Carlyon. He will be so happy about this” — with a light 
emphasising pressure on his arm — “ and he is like my 
own father. And then I want you to come with me to 
David’s grave.” 

“ Did you fear I should refuse ?” for Elizabeth’s voice 
had been somewhat hesitating. Do you think I should 
refuse any wish that it is in my power to gratify?” 

“ No,” she said gently; “ I know how good you will 
be to me — that if it were possible you would strew my 
daily path with thornless roses. But it is not possible, 
Malcolm.” 

Then we will take our share of the briars and thorns 
together.” 

Indeed we will. Malcolm, there is something I want 
to tell you before we stand by that grave to-morrow — 
something I should like you to know;” and then, in a 
voice broken by emotion, Elizabeth repeated the substance 
of her conversation with Mr. Carlyon. 

“ It has made me so much happier,” she faltered, when 
she had finished. Then Malcolm drew her closer to him. 

“ I am glad you told me this,” he said in a moved tone. 
“ Dear Elizabeth, I have a confession to make. In those 
old unhappy days I used to wonder how you could care so 
much for him. He was good and true and earnest, and 
he loved you dearly; but all the same I could not under- 
stand.” 

Dinah and Mrs. Godfrey could not understand 
either,” she replied gently ; “ but you none of you knew 


DEAREST REST’ 


435 


my David: it made me a better woman only to be near 
him. His father has just the same simple, guileless 
nature — my two Nathanaels I used to call them.” 

“ Dear, I understand better now,” returned Malcolm 
kindly ; “ but I ask myself, could I have done the same in 
his place? I fear — I greatly fear, my love is not so self- 
less. If I had to die and leave you ” but Elizabeth 

would not listen to this. 

“ If you had been in his place you would have been 
equally generous ; I know your good heart far too well 
to doubt that, Malcolm.” Elizabeth was a tall woman, 
and as she bent involuntarily towards him, her cheek 
rested for a moment against his ; that simple womanly 
caress seemed to set the seal to her sacred confidence. 
But when she would have moved away he held her fast. 

'' Elizabeth — Elizabeth,” it was all he could say ; but 
it was enough — no words were needed. Silently they 
said their Te Deum together, and the fair white moon- 
light lay on their bowed heads like a benison. 

Two or three days later Malcolm found his way to 27 
Queen’s Gate, and entered his mother’s study unan- 
nounced. Mrs. Herrick was writing as usual. Her keen 
gray eyes lighted up with pleasure when she saw him. 

My dear boy, at this hour — what a delightful sur- 
prise! I was just writing to Anna. Cedric will not hear 
of bringing her back until Thursday.” 

Malcolm smiled at his mother’s tone. Strong-willed 
woman as she was, he knew that Cedric would rule her 
utterly ; the lad’s wheedling ways and blarneying tongue 
had already won her heart. Cedric never could be made 
to understand why people were afraid of Mrs. Herrick. 

'' Have you come to spend the afternoon with me, Mal- 
colm?” 

Yes, if you will have me. I have some news for you, 
mother.” Malcolm was little nervous, and spoke with 


436 


HERB OF GRACE 


some abruptness. Mrs. Herrick laid down her pen and 
looked at him intently. 

“ You need not tell me,” she returned quietly. I know 
your news — I can read it in your face — Elizabeth Tem- 
pleton has promised to marry you.” 

“ Mother, are you a witch ?” in an astonished tone. 
“ It is not possible that any one has betrayed me ; Anna 
and Cedric promised not to say a word.” 

“ No one has betrayed your confidence, Malcolm ; and 
a mother does not need witchcraft to enable her to read 
her children’s hearts. 

My dear boy,” she continued — her strong features 
working a little with emotion, — “ do you really imagine 
that I have been blind all these years — that, although you 
chose to withhold your confidence from me, I was not 
aware of your trouble. You are a reserved, self-contained 
man like your father, Malcolm — he always kept things to 
himself too — but all the same you could not hide from 
your mother that your poor heart was almost broken be- 
cause the woman you wanted refused to marry you.” 

Malcolm took his mother’s hand and kissed it. “ You 
have been very good to me,” he murmured ; but I 
could not speak, the pain was too great. Thank God, 
Elizabeth is mine now.” 

“ I say, thank God, too” — and the keen eyes filled with 
tears. “ Will you bring her to me, Malcolm ?” 

“ Will I not, mother ! But you must send her a mes- 
sage.” 

Tell her, that from this hour she shall be the dearest 
of daughters to me, and that, for your sake, I shall love 
her dearly. And tell her — no, I will keep that for my 
own lips when we meet — that my son, God bless him ! is 
worthy of any woman’s love.” And then, as Malcolm 
bent over her, she folded him in her motherly embrace. 
At that moment Malcolm and his mother fully under- 
stood each other. 


DEAREST REST^ 


437 


Malcolm was anxious to be married as soon as pos- 
sible; and as his mother and Dinah were on his side, 
and there was really no reason for delay, Elizabeth soon 
yielded to his persuasions, and a day was fixed early in 
August. Cedric and Anna were to wait until the elder 
couple returned from Scotland, and then Malcolm would 
give his adopted sister away ; and after a fair amount of 
grumbling, Cedric acquiesced in this arrangement. 

In the middle of June, Dinah and Elizabeth paid a long 
visit to 27 Queen’s Gate, and Elizabeth did her shop- 
ping and saw the house in South Kensington that Mal- 
colm had described to her in such glowing terms. A 
friend of his had recently bought it and furnished if in 
admirable taste ; and now his wife’s ill-health obliged him 
to part with it, and Malcolm was in treaty for it. The 
sisters were charmed with the house when they saw it, 
and Elizabeth strongly advised Malcolm to take most of 
the furniture. “ It suits the house so exactly, and it will 
save you so much trouble,” she observed sensibly ; “ I 
know Dinah agrees with me.” And Dinah smiled and 
nodded. 

“ Die has made such a charming suggestion,” con- 
tinued Elizabeth, as she stepped out through the French 
window at one end of the long drawing-room on to a 
balcony, pleasantly shaded by an awning and prettily 
fitted up with flower-boxes and Indian matting and de- 
lightful lounging-chairs. “ She says we must call this 
our town house, but that the Wood House must be 
our country house. She wants us to be there all the sum- 
mer and autumn and here Elizabeth looked at Mal- 
colm rather wistfully. 

"‘And you think that arrangement would suit you?” 
he asked with a smile; but he knew her answer before 
hand. 

Oh, I should love to be with Die;” she replied earn- 
estly. “ Dear, do you mean that you will consent ? Think 


438 


HERB OF GRACE 


what it would mean to me. I shall not be separated from 
Mr. Carlyon and my poor people ; and I do so love the 
country; and we should have our winter and spring in 
town.'’ 

“ I think it will work excellently,” returned Malcolm 
in a tone of such conviction that Elizabeth’s doubts van- 
ished. “ I can do my work as well at Staplegrove as here, 
and I love the country too. As long as we are together 
and you are happy, I shall be satisfied.” 

“ Dearest, how good you are,” she whispered, with one 
of her rare, shy caresses. “ Die has planned everything 
so beautifully. You know the large end room we call 
our morning-room, that is to be your study. You are to 
have all your own books and things. Die is going to fit 
it up; she says it is to be her wedding present to you. 
The smaller room near it is to be the morning-room.” 

“ But you will not leave me alone in my study !” ob- 
served Malcolm in an alarmed voice. “ Your writing- 
table must be there too, Elizabeth. Do you think I could 
bear you out of my sight?” 

Elizabeth laughed and blushed, and called him a 
foolish, jealous boy; but in her heart she loved to think 
that she was the delight of his eyes, and that every day 
she grew dearer to him. 

It was the evening before the wedding, and a quiet 
little house-party had assembled at the Wood House — 
Mrs. Herrick and Anna, Colonel and Mrs. Godfrey ; and 
Malcolm, who had taken up his quarters at the “ King’s 
Arms,” had joined them at dinner. The wedding was 
to be at an early hour the next morning, and no .other 
guests were to be invited. Colonel Godfrey would give 
the bride away, and the vicar and Mr. Carlyon would per- 
form the ceremony between them. Anna would be the 
solitary bridesmaid. 

The sunset clouds were fading behind the little fir wood 


‘‘MY DEAREST REST’^ 


439 


when Elizabeth and Malcolm came out on the terrace. 
Elizabeth had been a little grave and thoughtful during 
dinner, and Malcolm, who could read her perfectly, knew 
that she was somewhat oppressed by all the talk. The 
still peacefulness of the evening, only broken by the 
sleepy twittering of the birds, seemed to calm and refresh 
her. 

“ Malcolm,” she said presently, “ did you hear what 
Mrs. Godfrey was telling me at dinner — that Mr. Rossiter 
is coming to the Manor House ?” 

“ Yes, I heard her,” was the reply. “ The Colonel was 
talking to me this afternoon; he says it is a foregone 
conclusion that Leah Jacobi will not refuse him a third 
time. His kindness and devotion after her brother’s death 
have already won her gratitude. Hugh Rossiter is one 
of the best fellows I know,” he observed, “ and Leah will 
be a happy woman the day she marries him. And marry 
him she will, you may take my word for it.’’ 

“ Poor Leah, I am so glad he cares for her. Of course 
you know Mrs. Richardson is dying, Malcolm, and that 
she is likely to be left alone in the world ?” 

“ Yes, and then Hugh Rossiter will have his innings.” 
And Malcolm was right, for before long the news of 
Leah’s marriage reached them. 

“ I am so glad Mrs. Godfrey told me that,” went on 
Elizabeth. “ I want every one to be as happy as we are 
to-night. But for saying good-bye to Die and Mr. Carl- 
yon I should not have a care. I can think of David 
without sadness, and life looks so beautiful. “ Dear,” 
with the vivid, bright smile he loved so well, “ I am so 
glad you are an author and a famous man — I shall be so 
proud of you; and though I cannot share your work as 
some women could, I can help you in other ways. I must 
be your right hand, Malcolm.” 

“ Shall I tell you what you will be to me,” he re- 
turned, in a voice of deep, vibrating tenderness that 


440 


HERB OF GRACE 


thrilled her through and through. '' I once read an old 
Scandinavian ballad where a warrior calls his love ‘ My 
dearest Rest.’ ‘ Three grateful words,’ the annotator goes 
on to say, ‘ and the most perfect crown of praise that ever 
woman won.’ Shall I call you that, Elizabeth ? — ‘ my 
dearest Rest.’ ” 

It is far too beautiful for me,” she whispered ; “ I 
do not deserve it.” But even as Elizabeth said this, her 
woman’s heart registered its first wifely vow. 

Yes, she would be that to him — his haven and comfort 
when he was weary with the storm and stress of life — 
God helping her, now and for ever “ his dearest Rest.” 


THE END 


1 


i 


t) 


, I 

M * 



H' 

I • 

1 


r 



( 




i 

t 

I 

t ' ■ 

' •! ■* 




( 


* 


0 


,'* 




• * 







f 


V 

I 


1 




» 


r 


I 


•' I I 


r 



. J ^■ 

' '■. ''' ‘' 

'* i A-, t '. , ■'Ji 


1 


i 


i- 


ii 




f 


t 


\ 


o « o - 


A.> ... ^ 



V i? -V 

o. <0*^ 


♦ ^ 



S^ ^ 

. > % ^y . ' • « 


^ *' 9 ty* A ^ 


: V'S^ : 



e * ^<V 


•o . » * <0 


O, ♦^V.V ,<\ 


« 

« 

( 







- "^0^ 

y o < 

*11 tv* o .. o -« O, * 

<■ ’\. ■i^' ‘ 

c,^ ♦ 

V ® 

<y ^ ®c 

* A <:^ A 

♦ eerif//P:> ^ r^j. . ^ t ,^NWf\'ifc ^ * J^H I //Z^ , *5’'. 


*^<5^ ''♦*> <5,^ C^ 

^ V «* *. * °* o^ y 


f* 


w^y • 


* A 


0^ cjV-» '^O^ ^ ^ 

-o/ "^--0^ ' 



S ^ 


« 

o 


^ 'Jsl' 

*o cj^ ♦ 

* -y ^ •> 

.•*•'*' t*;^, ''•f' 


^ a* ^H.wvsS' ■• Pv' r> ^ 

, i * * f ^ \'^ « * • O ^ < O' ^ S • • 

> V .V 

^ ^ vs>^ y* ' ■■■Hyy^’^ * A «. 2 





o ^ 
♦ ^ .1^ 



• • 4 o 

^ > V ^ 

«• - » . g. 5» • 





rt V ^ - 

V *> 





•‘ 

^ ♦ o w O ® 

V •'' • 

• ^ ^ »v 


'^rw -• 





'O. ’''7 



